No Zone Awareness Campaign Launched

Released on July 15, 1997

Highways and Transportation Minister Judy Bradley today announced the

launch of a new safety campaign to increase driver awareness of the

dangers when encountering large trucks on Saskatchewan highways.



"The No Zone multi-media campaign is designed to raise awareness of

the potential hazards of driving near large trucks and to increase

public knowledge of the limitations of those trucks," Bradley said.



The No Zone is the danger area around trucks such as blind spots in

truck mirrors, the area immediately behind trucks and the area that

encompasses truck stopping distances.



A recent review of fatal accidents in Saskatchewan in 1995 and 1996

involving large trucks and smaller vehicles found that in 82 per cent

of such mishaps (40 of 49 collisions), the smaller vehicle was at

fault. An American study found that in 80 per cent of fatal crashes

involving large trucks and smaller vehicles, the smaller vehicle was

at fault.



"It is important that we educate people on how to better share the

road with large trucks," Bradley said. "By highlighting the No Zone

we think we can reduce accidents and we hope we can save lives."



The No Zone Campaign is sponsored in partnership by Saskatchewan

Highways and Transportation, the Saskatchewan Safety Council, CAA

Saskatchewan, RCMP, the Saskatchewan Professional Drivers Safety

Council, and SGI.



The awareness campaign will include public service announcements

and posters and brochures are available from the involved

agencies. A 15 minute video has been prepared for use in driver

training curricula and will be distributed by SGI. Copies will

be available for the public.



"The central message and slogan for all of the safety campaign

material is - Don't hang out in the No Zone," Bradley said.



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For more information, contact:



John Meed

Transport Compliance

Highways and Transportation

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-4133