Editorial – Transport Drivers – Do They Understand?

Pete Fisher
5 years ago
• Categories: Editorial

Editorial – Another collision on Highway 401 involving a transport.

No one is surprised anymore.

But whose fault is it?

People are quick to judge that it is the transport driver’s fault.

First and foremost, everyone hopes the people involved in the collision in Port Hope fully recover.

A 55-year-old Cobourg woman was airlifted with critical injuries to a Toronto hospital.

People get mad, people yell and scream at what can be done to prevent it. Social media people are screaming about ideas. Have a separate lane for the transports, maybe even a new road.

What’s right, what’s wrong – who knows.

The collision appears to be eerily similar to a collision on August 3, 2017 where Todd Gardiner, 26, of Newscastle and Michael Glazier, 35, of Guelph were tragically killed when a transport slammed into their pickup truck near the same location as last nights collision.

The driver involved in that collision is still before the courts charged with criminal negligence causing death.

What exactly happened last night on Highway 401 has yet to be released. Many questions remain.

But standing on the Hamilton Township Boundary Road bridge overlooking the scene last night it was evident something is clearly wrong.

Whether it’s the problem with transport drivers, or maybe it’s something to do with licensing and the understanding of signs.

A long, long line of vehicles was backed up from the four-way stop at the bridge and west of vehicles and transports taking their own route to try and get around the scene.

Transport drivers seemed confused at which way to turn and that was obvious. Some went straight where there was a sign that clearly said no heavy trucks. Then it really got confusing as they backed up in the middle of the intersection. Others turned right to go over the bridge to search for a way back on the highway. Others needed convincing to turn left to head to Dale Road which is the Emergency Detour Route back to Highway 401 via Dale Road, then Burnham Street south.

On Friday, Today’s Northumberland gave the benefit of doubt to the transport drivers. But wanted to check if the Emergency Detour Route signage was posted visibly. It was.

After coming off the eastbound lanes of Highway 401 at Port Hope, there are EDR 401 signs posted at the lights. The EDR 401 signs are again posted at each and every intersection leading north on County Road 28 to Dale Road.

Unless truck drivers are not taught what the EDR 401 signs mean, there is absolutely no excuse for what each one did on Telephone Road last night. None.

If transport drivers on Telephone Road last night couldn’t understand what “EDR 401″ we shouldn’t wonder why collisions happen with transports.

We wanted to give transport drivers the benefit of the doubt – and did. That’s why we checked today for the signage. If they are taught what those signs mean and can’t follow the simple rules to follow those signs, each and every one of those driver’s should have to re-take their license or or better yet, have their license taken away.

And that’s just the first step.