Quebec releases new safety guidelines for heavy vehicles

Quebec has introduced new safety guidelines for trucks and other heavy vehicles aimed at reducing blind spots and preventing fatal crashes. The standard, published in August by the province’s standardization bureau, recommends features such as backup cameras and additional mirrors to improve direct visibility around larger vehicles. Cycling advocates say the guidelines are a positive step but should be made mandatory. Vélo Québec program director Magali Bebronne, who helped review the standard, said enforcement and the eventual phaseout of unsafe vehicles are needed to make roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists. The move comes as heavy vehicles remain a major factor in deadly collisions in Quebec. Provincial data shows fatal collisions involving heavy vehicles rose in 2025, and the province’s automobile insurance board says more than a quarter of fatal crashes last year involved them. Trucking representatives say many fleets already use some of the recommended safety equipment, but they agree more can be done to reduce risks on the road.