The Road Safety Monitor (RSM) is a unique, annual public opinion survey, conducted by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF), that takes the pulse of the nation on key traffic safety issues and tracks changes in behaviours, attitudes, and, opinions of Canadians by means of a telephone and on-line survey of a random, representative sample of Canadian drivers. The safety of large trucks on the roads has been a topic of concern among Canadians. While large trucks are less often involved in road crashes, despite driving much longer distances than drivers of passenger vehicles, the consequences of large truck crashes are substantial due to their large size and mass.

RSM results show that, although Canadians are more concerned about drinking and driving, a considerable proportion are concerned about large trucks. Data from 2001 to 2005 show that the number of injury crashes increased substantially, from 7,802 to 9,366; however, there was a decrease in 2006, to 9.066. Continued monitoring of the issue of commercial operators and vehicles is necessary to assess public concern about risks posed by commercial operators and vehicles on the road. Driver education and testing are priority strategies to help reduce large truck crashes, and, it is equally important that drivers of passenger vehicles know how to share the road with these vehicles.

Please see individual RSMs for sponsors