‘CARS’ road-safety group honored

TORONTO (Jan. 22) — The Canadian Alliance for Roadway Safety (CARS), a highway-safety group begun two years ago by four truck drivers in Oshawa, Ont., hosted a luncheon yesterday to honor its supporters and wsa the surprise recipient of an honor itself.

The group was given an award of appreciation by Ontario Transport Minister Tony Clement for its efforts to help automobile drivers across the province better understand how a transport truck operates and how to safety share the road.

“We’ve travel to community events, truck stops, truck shows, and other venues where we park a typical rig, position full-size automobiles around it, and invite passersby to climb into the cab and see just how hard it is for a truck driver to spot those vehicles in certain positions,” said Brian Little, CARS director of programs and communications and one of the founding members.

“We also provide literature on other aspects of sharing the road safely with trucks, have run public service announcements on radio stations with the same theme, and this year we hope to find a sponsor who’ll help us produce a 12-minute video.”

Last year, CARS was sponsored by 19 companies ranging from for-hire and private carriers to a signage company, a fencing firm, and a chain of truckstops. The group received valuable start-up guidance from the Michigan Truck Safety Commission, which has operated its own “Share the Road” program for a number of years, and also works closely with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, the Transportation Safety Association of Ontario and its affiliated Council of Driver Trainers, and the Ontario Provincial Police.

More support is needed for the 1999 season, which will see efforts made to enhance the effectiveness of the static display, launch a multifaceted children’s program, focus more on attendance at general community events, and create the instructional video. Interested parties are urged to contact Brian Little at 905/436-3339 (phone or fax), or by mail at P.O. Box 82533, Five Points Mall, Oshawa, ON L1G 7W7.


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