Continued road safety blitzes aim at trucks bypassing Vineland Inspection Station
Lincoln, ON – (August 8, 2023) – In early August, the Town of Lincoln collaborated with partner agencies Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS), Hamilton Police Service (HPS), and the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) for the fourth joint enforcement initiative of the year, focusing on commercial motor vehicle enforcement.
Joint enforcement initiatives support the Town’s ongoing efforts to keep Lincoln’s roads safe by focusing on commercial vehicles intentionally bypassing the Vineland Truck Inspection Station on the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) between Vineland and Beamsville in Lincoln. These recurring blitzes were established in response to community concern about increased commercial motor vehicle traffic through core areas and neighbourhoods. The focus of this initiative was to identify commercial vehicles intentionally bypassing the Vineland Inspection Station and to conduct in-depth vehicular inspections to ensure compliance with road safety standards, as legislated by the Province of Ontario.
Safety blitzes in Lincoln are being coordinated as a direct result of Council’s desire to redirect commercial vehicles away from Lincoln’s downtown cores and onto regional and municipal roads that are ideal for larger trucks, while ensuring regular goods movement to support our local businesses and overall economy. Safety blitzes aim to safeguard operation of these vehicles and are an ongoing commitment by the Town to ensure all roads in Lincoln are safe for residents and visitors alike.
"The Town Council and staff place the utmost importance on community safety, and these frequent blitzes in collaboration with our partner agencies serve as a significant means through which we prioritize traffic safety in Lincoln," said Town of Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton. "The implementation of these blitzes efficiently regulates truck flow and safety compliance, fostering a protective environment that benefits our residents and the local and regional economy.”
The statistics from the recent initiative include:
- More than 150 passenger and commercial vehicles were re-directed to the Vineland Inspection Station
- 67 vehicles were comprehensively inspected
- 16 vehicles were removed from the highway after significant safety concerns were identified
- Three sets of licence plates were seized
- 55 Provincial Offence Notices (tickets) were issued for various offences including: licence plates not being authorized for a vehicle, improper load, improper tires, and expired insurance.
“These road safety blitzes, involving collaborative efforts by our community agencies play a crucial role in our traffic safety program,” said Tony Brunet, Ward 2 Councillor and Chair of the Town’s Community Services and Infrastructure Committee. “I have witnessed firsthand the dedication and hard work displayed by all parties during this blitz and am pleased to see this initiative continue.”
"The dedication and continued efforts shown by our partner agencies in enhancing traffic safety within our communities is deeply valued," said the Town’s Chief Administrative Officer Michael Kirkopoulos. "By fostering collaborative and consistent approaches to community safety, we are steadily making progress on our community's top priorities."
For more information on truck safety in Lincoln and previous safety blitzes, visit Speak Up Lincoln.
The Town continues to implement traffic safety initiatives throughout the community, including community safety zones, pedestrian crossovers, speedbumps, and digital speed feedback signs. Visit Speak Up Lincoln for more details or to ask the Town a question about traffic safety in Lincoln.
Background
Truck Traffic in Lincoln and History of Safety Blitzes
In April 2019, Lincoln Council approved a resolution regarding truck safety in Lincoln, which addressed community concerns related to truck traffic and identified several action items to address the concerns. In the short term, the Beamsville Truck Bypass Route is planned to redirect truck traffic from the downtown area of Beamsville and along Bartlett Road and Durham Road.
In the longer term, the Niagara Escarpment Crossing Project will be a new north-south truck route strategically located between the QEW and Regional Road 20. This route supports the need identified in the Niagara Region Transportation Master Plan for a new north-south escarpment crossing linking the QEW with Highway 20. It will offset the implications of high commercial vehicle traffic travelling through urban and residential areas within the west Niagara communities of Lincoln and Grimsby.
The Town’s Transportation Master Plan developed comprehensive strategies for the movement of goods which requires ongoing partnership with the Niagara Region and other key agencies such as the Minister of Transportation and Niagara Regional Police.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Liliana Busnello
Manager of Corporate Communications
Town of Lincoln
Direct: 905-563-2799 ext. 230
Tel: 905-563-8205
