Study says trees obstruct sight lines at Humboldt bus collision intersection

by Truck West

REGINA, Sask. – A study conducted by a consulting firm indicates that sight lines at the intersection where the tractor-trailer and Humboldt Broncos bus collided are a safety concern.

McElhanney Consulting Services conducted the 70-page review for the Saskatchewan government. The purpose of the study was to review the geometric, collision, traffic, and human factor characteristics of the intersection.

In addition to negotiating with private land owners for the removal of the trees, the report makes 13 suggestions to help improve safety at the Highway 35 and 335 intersection where 16 people were killed and another 13 injured back in April.

Some of the recommendations include better signage, rumble strips on Highway 335, widening the shoulders of the highway, and “stop ahead” pavement markings.

In the report’s conclusion, it states: “Although there have been two multiple fatality collisions at the intersection, the location does not have a high overall frequency of collisions, including high severity collisions. No significant collision trends were identified at the intersection. However, the geometric design review did identify some potential safety issues that could be mitigated to further reduce the collision risk at the intersection.”


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  • I am a professional driver. I have been on Hwy 35 and Secondary 335 many times since 1984. I have lost count the number of times on 335 and stopping. There is nothing wrong with the intersection. You stop when and where required; your visibility of both directions is 100%.
    Time to stop the hunt for excuses.
    ATTITUDE is the denominator here. Truck driver decided “not stopping”
    Driver training can educate for circle checks, airbrake checks, shifting, coupling/uncoupling trailers, load distribution, driving procedures and backing up. It will not train attitude. I have witnessed drivers whom can do all the above, but conduct idiot moves when behind wheel and rolling through stop signs is right up there. “A’ designation on the CDL means air brake, and you better bring the right attitude to make safety the number 1 part of your day. You will be perceived as a Class 1A….ole real quick when exhibiting the wrong attitude.
    Let’s be the “Professional” in the industry.

  • If sightlines are obscured then there is even more reason for the driver to have exercised more caution and stopped. He chose to run the stop sign. Speed doesn’t kill, bad decisions do.

  • Having hauled peat moss as a van backhaul on highway 335 and 35 as a part-time 18 wheeler driver as well as a part-time Greyhound driver from 1967-1988 I find myself caught between different worlds with the Humbolt Accident. In accidents of this kind, between a bus loaded with precious cargo, human souls to be exact, and a truck loaded with peat moss there is a propensity to blame the truck driver and not the bus driver. I know the intersection well but still wonder what was going on with both the truck and bus driver just seconds before the accident. Only professional accident analysis will give us the true answers to this tragedy and not public speculation.

  • This driver was ill trained “obstuction” is an excuse, The term “PROFESSIONAL”does not apply here. Playing politics! 16 young men died due to essentially no driver training. The Provinces are to blame passing students with “minimum” practicum and theoretical education. Other trades implement a 4 to 5 year apprenticeship. Lobbying the Government has to end in 2018. Please no more carnage on our highways due to unskilled PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS. – I speak with 50 years in all capacities of the trucking industry.

  • No matter how much training or how much experience you have on the road. The attitude is the number one problem on the road. I am a truck driver and see many truckers following too close, running through stop signs and driving in no truck lanes.
    Some drivers simply don’t care and take risks with the hope of not getting caught. These kind of drivers will pass all training tests but once on the road on their own, will be a different story.

  • I was an owner/operator for 32 years and quit 6 years ago because i did not want to be associated anymore with the industry. The quality of drivers on the road and the disrespect they have for the occupation is atrocious. They is no courtesy any more, for other drivers or pedestrians. Even among drivers, no one informs anyone anymore about road or weather conditions. I would turn my CB on in Toronto and drive to Calgary and back and maybe hear 2 calls on the radio about weather or traffic situations. The people driving now are not who or what drivers were about 30 years ago. If you broke down years ago there would be all kinds of help available from your fellow truckers. Now, good luck getting a reply on the CB when asking for some assistance. It is a sad situation and going to get a lot worse. This is just the beginning of the end.