Click HERE to see the video on Transport Canada
Have you ever wondered why we have the cars we have? Why some are available to us and why others are not? One of the reasons has to do with money and the market. The other one has to do with norms and regulations. Transport Canada is the organization that is the driving force behind these decisions. We had the opportunity, a short while ago, to travel to one of their branch offices in Ottawa and discover another automotive World that exists outside our own.
Many people may know of this organization but may not be aware of what they do exactly. What we were specifically interested in was the Safety and Security department within Transport Canada. They are responsible for the norms and standards when it comes to all modes of transportation, including rail, marine and aviation. What we visited is their Road Safety branch.
Road safety, just in case you were wondering, has nothing to do with the condition of our roads. That is Transport Quebec's responsibility. Road safety implies drivers, passengers and our beloved automobiles. About 35 years ago, the Motor Vehicle Safety Act was created to establish safety standards in the design and construction of motor vehicles. These include some of the norms that prevent certain vehicles from entering our borders. This explains why some vehicles, such as the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX and the last generation of the now discontinued Toyota MR2 never made north of the Canadian-American border.
To most, safety usually equals air bags, ABS brake and crash standards.
Let us explain further what is meant by road safety and its implication with the driver. Other than the physical cars, it also includes situations like driving while talking on cell phones as well as drinking and driving. On Transport Canada's website (www.tc.gc.ca), they have many links to studies and research reports that can be very helpful. They also provide web users with some tips on child safety and winter driving. If we get back to the cars, the Road Safety branch of Transport Canada is the actual place where safety recalls originate from. If you have a serious problem that you believe is safety related with your personal vehicle, you can contact them (1-800-333-0510) and file a complaint. Should you do so, make sure you are aware of all the details of the situation. This way, the defect investigator will be in a better position to help you.
OK, now that we know what the Road Safety department is all about. I am certain that you, much like myself, have often wondered why we do not get certain vehicles like micro-minis and such. Well, it is basically up to the Road Safety group to evaluate what can or cannot be sold in Canada. To be more specific, the Advanced Technology Vehicle Program (ATVP) studies cars that are nearly or already available on other markets (pre-production or production). They principally evaluate fuel efficiency, emissions and safety performance. If they find that a certain vehicle has enormous potential, they take the necessary steps to try and introduce this vehicle onto our market. Think of the smart fortwo. We have them to
thank for this great little car.
Question is, how do they get these vehicles? What they do is simply purchase these vehicles in other countries, import them to Canada and rigorously test them. They are driven in normal circumstances and undergo formal laboratory testing. These vehicles are even taken to a test track and evaluated with a series of instruments.
Many of these vehicles are diesel powered. Diesel is known for great fuel economy but also for polluting and being noisy and unrefined. The ATVP has evaluated that diesel technology has become incredibly proficient. It is now much cleaner, more sophisticated and quieter than it has even been. They figure that these advancements, along with other new existing technologies, can easily increase fuel efficiency by between 25% and 40%. At the same time, pollution can be kept to a minimum. These are vital pieces of information that need to be shared.
 |
Many people may know of this organization but may not be aware of what they do exactly. What we were specifically interested in was the Safety and Security department within Transport Canada. They are responsible for the norms and standards when it comes to all modes of transportation, including rail, marine and aviation. What we visited is their Road Safety branch.
Road safety, just in case you were wondering, has nothing to do with the condition of our roads. That is Transport Quebec's responsibility. Road safety implies drivers, passengers and our beloved automobiles. About 35 years ago, the Motor Vehicle Safety Act was created to establish safety standards in the design and construction of motor vehicles. These include some of the norms that prevent certain vehicles from entering our borders. This explains why some vehicles, such as the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX and the last generation of the now discontinued Toyota MR2 never made north of the Canadian-American border.
To most, safety usually equals air bags, ABS brake and crash standards.
 |
OK, now that we know what the Road Safety department is all about. I am certain that you, much like myself, have often wondered why we do not get certain vehicles like micro-minis and such. Well, it is basically up to the Road Safety group to evaluate what can or cannot be sold in Canada. To be more specific, the Advanced Technology Vehicle Program (ATVP) studies cars that are nearly or already available on other markets (pre-production or production). They principally evaluate fuel efficiency, emissions and safety performance. If they find that a certain vehicle has enormous potential, they take the necessary steps to try and introduce this vehicle onto our market. Think of the smart fortwo. We have them to
 |
Question is, how do they get these vehicles? What they do is simply purchase these vehicles in other countries, import them to Canada and rigorously test them. They are driven in normal circumstances and undergo formal laboratory testing. These vehicles are even taken to a test track and evaluated with a series of instruments.
Many of these vehicles are diesel powered. Diesel is known for great fuel economy but also for polluting and being noisy and unrefined. The ATVP has evaluated that diesel technology has become incredibly proficient. It is now much cleaner, more sophisticated and quieter than it has even been. They figure that these advancements, along with other new existing technologies, can easily increase fuel efficiency by between 25% and 40%. At the same time, pollution can be kept to a minimum. These are vital pieces of information that need to be shared.