MPP Harinder Takhar presents Highway Traffic Amendment Act.

(Keep our Roads Safer Through the use of Intelligent Drive Technologies)

MPP Harinder Takhar tabled a private members bill regarding an amendment to the Highway Traffic Act with the key objective of keeping our roads safe, with the use of Intelligent Drive Technologies. This act is coming up for debate on May 12th, 2016. Unsafe roads are a major cause of injuries and fatalities and are predicted to increase if road safety issues are not addressed appropriately.

MPP Takhar in his bill is proposing that road safety can be addressed by having vehicles equipped with collision avoidance systems/intelligent drive technologies and by postcollision/accident rescue safety technologies. These technologies include:

`• Front crash avoidance/prevention technology

• Lane departure warning technology

• Adaptive Headlight technology

• Blind spot technology/system

• Automatic Parking and Park assist technology

• Technologies that provide visibility around the motor vehicle

• Lidar sensor/laser scanning or 3D scanning technology

• Overhead view mirror technology • Pot hole sensor technology This bill also proposes post-collision/accident rescue safety technologies. Sometimes the rescue teams are unable to extract/rescue the victims due to lack of technical/ structural knowledge of the vehicle. Installation of technologies such as QR codes can assist the first responders in gaining this knowledge about the vehicle through smart phones. The QR codes were developed by Mercedes and they are willing to make it available to all vehicle manufacturers. “Intelligent Drive Technologies are mostly available in high-end vehicles. However, we must protect the lives of all our residents. Any steps we can take to improve road safety and reduce accidents can save precious lives.” —– Harinder Takhar, MPP for Mississauga-Erindale.