Adding side guards to city owned heavy-duty vehicles will drastically reduce cyclist and pedestrian fatalities, according to a City of Toronto staff report recommending retrofitting the city's large vehicle fleet by 2026.
Side guards are protective railings or bars mounted on the sides of large trucks to prevent pedestrians or cyclists from being pulled under the wheels in the event of a collision.
Cyclist fatalities could be cut by more than 60 per cent if side guards are implemented, the report maintained. Pedestrian fatalities could also fall by 20 per cent, while serious injuries for cyclists could decrease by 6 per cent, as a result of the side rails, city staff said.
The report is scheduled to go before the city's Infrastructure and Environment committee on Nov. 27.
While there are no federal or provincial requirements for vehicles to be fitted with the side guards, Mayor Olivia Chow said the city is taking "bold action" to implement the measures on its own fleet.
"Adding side guards to vehicles is proven to reduce pedestrian and cyclist fatalities and will help make our city safer," Chow said in press release.
Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie said, “Side guards can significantly improve pedestrian and cyclist safety."
"Recommendations such as these are part of our ongoing commitment to the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan," McKelvie continued.
The city is already putting side guards on all new vehicles, with more than 30 vehicles now equipped with the safety devices. City staff will identify and prioritize remaining vehicles suitable for retrofitting.
It is estimated that 219 of 500 city-owned heavy-duty vehicles will be retrofitted by December 2025, with the entire fleet of suitable vehicles retrofitted by the end 2026.
The total potential cost for the city to retrofit all remaining 500 heavy-duty fleet trucks and trailers (meaning vehicles over 9,920 pounds) is an estimated $5.6 million.
The full report can be found here.
Side guards on heavy-duty vehicles save lives.
— Mayor Olivia Chow (@MayorOliviaChow) November 20, 2024
That's why the City of Toronto is installing this life-saving technology on all City-owned heavy-duty vehicles over the coming months.
Read more: https://t.co/TuaooAiTlj pic.twitter.com/Qr0vclxX8M
