Scape Scape:
Bad highway design and driver error. Amazed it didn't happen before.
It's far more driver error than it is bad highway design - there are hundreds, maybe thousands of similar intersections along the TCH where these types of crashes don't happen.
In an ideal world, the entire TCH would be built to a freeway standard with interchanges and flyovers at all intersections, but the cost of that would be in the tens of billions of dollars. Just a quick scan of Google Maps shows that Manitoba would need to upgrade approximately 45 intersections on the TCH. But outside of cities and towns along the highway, traffic levels on the TCH are pretty low, and traffic crossing the TCH is even lower. Given that many of those intersections only see a hundred or two people use them every day, it can be hard for cash-strapped governments to justify spending $20 to $100 million per interchange.
We've had similar intersections in Alberta that see a tragic accident
like this one, which then get safety upgrades to protect drivers.
The Humboldt crash was a big factor in many provinces adopting Mandatory Entry Level Training for semi-truck drivers too - but if took a huge tragedy to get that safety standard implemented in most (not all) provinces in Canada.
Unfortunately, most governments are reactive not proactive when it comes to safety, and the reality is that safety isn't sexy and doesn't win votes, especially in rural areas that already vote conservative en masse. The sad fact is that most infrastructure construction is aimed at economic development, not safety, which really sucks in my humble opinion.
This really boils down to a societal level issue - most people simply don't care about traffic safety or car accidents until one happens to them (or someone they know). Many drivers speed, use their cell phones, drive impaired (by alcohol or drugs), and/or drive agressively, and don't give it a second thought. When a crash happens, they just turn up the radio and find out an alternate route or which lane is fastest to pass the crash scene. Sadly, very few people think about the private little tragedy that just unfolded for the people involved, again unless they know someone involved.
Is it any wonder our politicians generally feel the same way?
CKA Moderator 
CKA Moderator 
