Transportation and Works
May 28, 2009Provincial
Government Unveils New Snowplow Safety Equipment
The Provincial Government took possession of its first
snowplow with protective side guards today.
The Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of
Transportation and Works, and Jeannette Holman-Price, Director of the
Jessica Campaign, were on hand to unveil the new equipment in front of
Confederation Building.
"I�m so glad to share in this moment with Ms.
Holman-Price," said Minister Taylor.
"Safety is the number one priority of the Department
of Transportation and Works and this is the latest example of our
efforts to make our transportation infrastructure as safe as possible."
In late March, the Provincial Government announced
that all its new snowplow trucks would be equipped with side guards to
prevent pedestrians from rolling under its trucks. The Department of
Transportation and Works is in the fourth-year of a five-year, $50
million plan, to replace old heavy equipment, such as snowplow trucks
and will take possession of a further 29 new plow trucks with side
guards this fall � a year earlier than originally anticipated. The
Provincial Government will invest approximately $80,000 for this
life-saving equipment.
"We were inspired to make this change by the diligence
of Ms. Holman-Price, a resident of Portugal Cove-St. Phillip�s, who has
been lobbying to require all heavy trucks be equipped with side guards
to prevent fatalities such as the one that took her daughter�s life,"
said Minister Taylor.
Ms. Holman-Price commended Minister Taylor and the
Provincial Government for their leadership in promoting the use of side
guards.
"The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is an
example to all other jurisdictions with their commitment to safety and
their ongoing support of this cause," said Ms. Holman Price.
For more information on the Jessica Campaign go to:
thejessicacampaign.com.
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Photo: The Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of
Transportation and Works today unveiled the Provincial
Government's first snowplow sideguard. Minister Taylor was
joined by Jeannette Holman-Price, Director of the Jessica
Campaign.