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Following several collisions involving heavy trucks, Quebec has announced new measures aimed at addressing the issue of inexperienced drivers.
Just last month, a 13-year-old cyclist was killed by a truck in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que. Another cyclist was struck on Wednesday in Drummonville.
Under the new measures announced Thursday, truck drivers in Ontario with less than two years of experience who wish to work in Quebec and exchange their Class 1 heavy vehicle driver’s license will be required to take practical exams.
This requirement applies to all drivers with less than 24 months of Class 1 driving experience. If these drivers fail the practical tests twice, they will be required to complete mandatory training.
In a news release, the province’s automobile insurance board said this measure follows the audit report published by Ontario’s auditor general on May 12 on commercial driver’s licenses, which highlighted the need to strengthen the oversight of training and licensing programs.
The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) also said a working group was established to “develop a coordinated approach to strengthening road safety requirements regarding the operation of vehicles by temporary foreign workers.”
According to the SAAQ, the goal of the working group is to propose regulatory changes to better address road safety issues and increase the number of workers who adopt safe driving practices.
