British Columbia truck drivers who strike overpasses will face higher penalties and potential jail time, B.C.’s transport minister announced Tuesday, in the province’s latest move to try to curb a rash of destructive collisions.
Under proposed changes to B.C.’s Commercial Transport Act (CTA), drivers found responsible could be ordered to pay fines up to $100,000 and spend as much as 18 months in jail.
B.C. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming said the move is aimed at the “tiny percentage” of drivers he says don’t take safety seriously on B.C.’s roads.
“Simply put there’s no excuse for collisions with our infrastructure,” Fleming told reporters on Tuesday after tabling the amendments in the legislature.
“These crashes need to stop.”
Over-height vehicles have struck overpasses 35 times since 2021, according to data from the province.
The collisions have not only caused injuries, Fleming said, but they have closed major routes for weeks combined and have caused …