Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are instituting rigorous mandatory driver training for class one commercial driving licences, while B.C.’s rules remain unchanged for 15 years
VICTORIA — B.C.’s antiquated minimum standards for training commercial truck drivers haven’t been updated in at least 15 years and badly lag behind other provinces that have moved quickly to boost safety in the year since the deadly Humboldt bus crash.
Meanwhile, Alberta on March 1 boosted its minimum levels to 113 education hours , that includes 40.5 hours in-class, 15.5 hours in a stationary vehicle and 57 hours of practical behind-the-wheel training. The driver, Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, was sentenced to eight years in prison for driving offences. He was an inexperienced new driver, who missed four highway signs while distracted by a flapping tarp before he T-boned the bus. The owner of the trucking company, based in Calgary, was also fined.
“We’re a year on, nobody has looked at this for a year?” said Polak. “It’s just inexcusable it wouldn’t be reviewed.” “ICBC is examining a number of different training options to improve commercial vehicle driver safety, including the recently introduced Mandatory Entry Level Training programs in Ontario and Alberta, as well as the U.S.”
His association has met recently with ICBC, Transportation Minister Claire Trevena and Attorney General David Eby to discuss a MELT program, he said.But progress on the program is being delayed, which Earle said may be due to ICBC being preoccupied with other matters. The Crown corporation has been haemorrhaging money and instituting massive changes, caps and reforms to its insurance system. But ICBC’s preoccupation doesn’t wash with Polak.
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