OTTAWA, (Aug. 20, 2004) — The lack of safe, accessible rest stops or pull-over areas for trucks is becoming a real concern for drivers struggling to balance requirements for rest and new hours of service rules, says the executive director of the Owner-Operator’s Business Association of Canada.

And it’s only going to get worse, says Joanne Ritchie. Canada’s highway system is “woefully inadequate,” she says, and truck stop owners are increasingly reluctant to bear the cost of paving acres of expensive real estate to fix a problem regulators continue to ignore.

OBAC is now inviting drivers to add their voice to the association’s efforts to bring the issue before policy makers and regulators. Interested truckers can send their thoughts to Ottawa by way of a Rest Stop Campaign mail-back coupon OBAC is distributing.

“I’m trying to determine if any of the millions of dollars that have been spent over the years in research, studies, and reports, both on Hours of Service and highway infrastructure planning, have specifically addressed the question of adequate and safe rest stops or pullover areas for trucks,” says Ritchie in a release. “We don’t have all the answers, and solutions are likely to be costly, complex, and multi-jurisdictional, but OBAC is willing to work co-operatively with all concerned to move this issue forward.”

Interested parties can contact Ritchie at 613/237-6222 or e-mail her at jritchie@obac.ca.