Sideguards – Background and Facts

Sideguards Background and Facts

Office of Olivia Chow, MP (Trinity-Spadina)NDP Transport Critic

Tim EhlichLegislative Assistant

Sideguards Background and FactsTale of Two Countries CanadaSnapshot 2005

Population: ~32.4 million

Trucks above 4.5 tons: ~718,000

Pedestrians killed by heavy trucks: 50Cyclists killed by heavy trucks: 10

Pedestrians and cyclists killed per 10,000 trucks: 8.4

Tale of Two Countries GermanySnapshot 2005

Population: ~82.4 million

Trucks above 4.5 tons: ~2.6 million

Pedestrians killed by heavy trucks: 82Cyclists killed by heavy trucks: 69

Pedestrians and cyclists killed per 10,000 trucks: 5.8

EU: Proactive in Making Trucks Safer1989: EU directive makes truck sideguards mandatory

1990-1995: member states phase in mandatory sideguards

2000: front underrun protection mandatory

2002: automatic speed limitation devices mandatory

2003: improved mirrors for trucks become mandatory

Canada: The Long and Winding Road1998: Toronto Regional Coroner recommends sideguards

2006: City of Toronto Works Committee recommends sideguards again2006: The Jessica Campaign kicks off as grassroots campaign2006: Olivia Chows 1st attempt in House of Commons

2010: Olivias co-sponsored Bill C-512 fails

2011: Chief Coroner of Ontario announces cycling fatality investigation2011: Safe Trucks initiative started www.safetrucks.ca 2011: Olivia re-introduces sideguard legislation as Bill C-344

Sideguards: Important Step Towards SafetyLet the Numbers SpeakUK study: 23% drop in cyclist deaths from truck collisions after introductionCyclists moving in same direction as truck: 61% drop

Germany: 40% drop in cycling fatalities, 20% drop in pedestrian fatalities from collisions with trucks in urban areas since 1995

Netherlands: blind-spot accident fatalities in truck/cylist collision down 50%

EU: sideguards prevent underrun in up to 50% of two-wheeler/truck crashesEU: cycling fatalities have dropped in every member state (EU-14); overall decrease of 31% from 1995 to 2005EU: pedestrian fatalities dropped by 41% from 1995 to 2005Still Room for ImprovementTwo Basic Types of SideguardsRail-style sideguards: 2 horizontal bars, max. 30 cm gapFlush-mount or closed sideguards: made of flat panels

Closed Sideguards with Clear AdvantageBoth types legal in EU, closed sideguards better for safetyDutch study: improved design lowers fatality rates by 10%200-400 fatalities less yearly in EU if all trucks had closed sideguardsEU financing research projects

Aerodynamic Design: Good for EnvironmentReduced Fuel ConsumptionFirst attempts in 1996: 4-5% fuel consumption reductionCommercialized Dutch design: 5-15% reduction, 9% averageGerman design 7% on average, British design 10%Individual tests: up to 20% fuel savings

CharacteristicsWeight: ~220 kg, made of high-tech plastic to withstand 1 kN impactLifespan: 20 years, well beyond average truck/trailer useCosts: ~$600 to $2,600; average of $900 payback between 2 and 3 yearsFuel savings for both rigid trucks and tractor-trailer combinations

Different Designs All Leading to Savings

Canada: Case for Aerodynamic SideguardsIf we had fuel-saving sideguards in placeAssumption: conservative fuel savings of 5%Fleet of ~235,000 tractor-trailer combinations

ResultsFuel savings: 401 million litersCO2 emissions reduced by 1.1 million tonnes annuallyEquivalent to taking ~250,000 cars of Canadas roadsImproved road safety for all

What You Can Do To Make Sideguards a Reality in Canada

Signher petition to parliament Touch base with Olivia and become a volunteer Inform yourself via the website SafeTrucks.caTake this slide deck and use it to talk to your friends, family, classmates or co-workers