Beginning today, the province will take part in a North American-wide commercial vehicle inspection safety blitz.

"Alberta Sheriffs will ramp up commercial vehicle inspections as part of International Roadcheck, a three-day commercial vehicle safety campaign. From May 14 to 16, members of the Alberta Sheriff Highway Patrol will inspect hundreds of additional commercial vehicles and their drivers for compliance with federal and provincial regulations at vehicle inspection stations throughout the province," the province stated.

The continent-wide International Roadcheck campaign is organized by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) and carried out annually by certified inspectors from various law enforcement agencies across Canada, the United States and Mexico. Inspections include an examination of vehicle mechanical components, as well as checks of driver credentials and hours of service.

Each year, International Roadcheck emphasizes violations in a specific area. This year’s operation will focus on inspecting tractor protection systems and anti-bleed back valves and checking drivers for controlled substances and alcohol. 

The Alberta Sheriffs were first granted the authority to investigate impaired driving and other criminal offences in late 2021. Bob Andrews, The Acting Chief for  Alberta Sheriffs, said that over the years, the Sheriff Highway Patrol’s participation in International Roadcheck has resulted in hundreds of safety violations being identified and addressed, significantly improving safety on Alberta’s roads.

"The initiative is an immensely important one, and one that the Alberta Sheriffs are proud to participate in once again."

In 2023 alone, inspections over three days resulted in 157 commercial vehicles being removed from the road due to non-compliance, driver fitness and out-of-service safety violations.

Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@discoverairdrie.com. You can also message and follow us on Twitter: @AIR1061FM

DiscoverAirdrie encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the DiscoverAirdrie app. For breaking news, weather and contest alerts click here