LETTER: What will it take for safer northern highways

To the editor:

I am submitting this letter on 2 thoughts :

Comments made by candidate NDP Loren Mick and the recent accident affecting PC MPP - Vic Fedeli- being rear-ended by a transport at an intersection in North Bay.

A local NDP candidate is recommending actions for safer roadways (Hwy - 11/17/144):

1. MTO staff increases
2. MTO testing for new CMV operators
3. MTO enforcements
4. Mandatory snow tires, updated training for winter driving skills, more rest stops, and widening/ paving of highway shoulders.
5. 4 - laning of highways (double lanes in one direction as well).
6. Increased rail service

I would like to share my thoughts to the readers as follows:

1. Agree
2. Agree
3. Agree
4. Agree somewhat - will these tires be applied to the CMV, who will monitor the training update for the operators, will the rest spots be used if more are added (the ones that are visible today are hardly filled when passing by), widening and paving of the shoulder would only encourage some CMV drivers to run the "gauntlet" and pass on the right( up in Northern Ontario, CMV operators have been known to drive on skidoo "groomed" trails and sidewalks).
5. Somewhat disagree - 4-lane or double-lane roadways will still cause havoc (westbound double-lane highway 11 - 30 km east of Thunder Bay, closed due to (2) CMVs in an accident - highway closed for several hours with no entry to western communities along this roadway).
6. Totally agree but, who will be operating these locomotives?

It is clear that there seems to be one political party that is doing its best to help improve the situation by making our highways safer.

It would be delightful if the other parties participated and forwarded their recommendations to the public.

What would it take for those so-called "noninterested" parties to show concern - an accident or close call on their behalf?

Thank you

Gary Kader( Health and Safety Training Consultant)

Timmins