Poll for Humboldt truck driver

[averagejoe]

Blowing through a Stop sign is never a good idea (specially since it’s a blind stop sign).

Just to clarify, truckers view of traffic heading south was in clear view. This wasn’t the case of traffic heading north... hence why I said blind.

It's not a blind corner....It's a major highway and has the right of way. The secondary highway has the STOP signs. These type of intersections are all over Canada....

[GordonH]

Blowing through a Stop sign is never a good idea (specially since it’s a blind stop sign).

Just to clarify, truckers view of traffic heading south was in clear view. This wasn’t the case of traffic heading north... hence why I said blind.

It's not a blind corner....It's a major highway and has the right of way. The secondary highway has the STOP signs. These type of intersections are all over Canada....

Chances are if the trucker view was clear looking south (which it isn’t with the homestead and whole bunch of trees), he would have seen the bus and would have most likely stopped. Instead he took a chance no one was heading north and blew through the stop sign, rest is history now.
Blind being the trucker didn’t have clear view south, unlike his view north.

My issue is the length of his sentence.

[oldtrucker]

You can have all the flashing lights you want....and clowns wearing neon clothing dancing at the intersection....wont make any difference. Clear line of sight or not.
Anyone driving truck in the flatlands for 15 hours day every day with no REM sleep will be blowing through stop signs.
Didn't speak english, new here, etc....employer probably had him over a barrel and made him work with no rest. I've never seen anyone in that industry be abused....

[GordonH]

You can have all the flashing lights you want....and clowns wearing neon clothing dancing at the intersection....wont make any difference. Clear line of sight or not.
Anyone driving truck in the flatlands for 15 hours day every day with no REM sleep will be blowing through stop signs.
Didn't speak english, new here, etc....employer probably had him over a barrel and made him work with no rest. I've never seen anyone in that industry be abused....

That is something that needs to be addressed, if truckers are not going to step up and do the right thing. Rather obvious the employer sure doesn’t want to do the right thing.
Then government overlords have to.

[stuphoto]

I don't think he is a criminal- he didn't mean to do it. That could have happened to any truck driver that was working those hours.

The difference is you and myself both know better and pull over for a short rest.
But then again, neither of us would work for anyone telling up to work verwy verwy ( typo intended ) hard and earn our employer ( slave drivers? ) lots and lots of money.

[stuphoto]

That is something that needs to be addressed, if truckers are not going to step up and do the right thing. Rather obvious the employer sure doesn’t want to do the right thing.
Then government overlords have to.

Old Trucker and myself should have said, Don't Get Us Started on employers.
Some love new drivers who will run illegally.
They love foreign drivers even more, since its easy exploiting someone who is worried about getting deported.
What sort of incentive do us experienced drivers have when we get paid the exact same as a newby?
Less even when you consider we won't push the limits.
How many times have we been promised what sounds like a fair rate and suddenly discover the company calculates the mileage of every route in a straight line.
Some trucking outfits are worse than Politicians, Lawyers and Used Car Salesmen combined.

I can now turn down the lousy jobs, and thankfully only had 1 tell me to run like an idiot.
I found my way back to their yard and quit later that day.
If it ever happens again they will be looking for their truck in a scales impound yard and need a good explanation.

[GordonH]

That is something that needs to be addressed, if truckers are not going to step up and do the right thing. Rather obvious the employer sure doesn’t want to do the right thing.
Then government overlords have to.

Old Trucker and myself should have said, Don't Get Us Started on employers.
Some love new drivers who will run illegally.
They love foreign drivers even more, since its easy exploiting someone who is worried about getting deported.
What sort of incentive do us experienced drivers have when we get paid the exact same as a newby?
Less even when you consider we won't push the limits.
How many times have we been promised what sounds like a fair rate and suddenly discover the company calculates the mileage of every route in a straight line.
Some trucking outfits are worse than Politicians, Lawyers and Used Car Salesmen combined.

I can now turn down the lousy jobs, and thankfully only had 1 tell me to run like an idiot.
I found my way back to their yard and quit later that day.
If it ever happens again they will be looking for their truck in a scales impound yard and need a good explanation.

Apparently the trucking industry needs a whole lot more government interference, not only directed at the drivers also at their employers.

[mexi cali]

Lets not rehash the makeup of the intersection. There is nothing to gain by it. He blew a stop sign and the result is what everybody knows it to be.

I have inadvertently blown through a stop sign. One that was well marked on a street I was familiar with but I missed it just the same. I was lucky. No one was coming. Disaster was averted. Had I and anyone else not been so lucky, different scenario.

My driving record is clean. How much punishment do I deserve?

Depends on the outcome. I would have done what this driver did. Admit my guilt and take the punishment.

Then what? I am a criminal for the rest of my life because of a momentary lapse?

He is not a criminal. He is a human being who made a horrific mistake but he stepped up and did the right thing afterward. I wish more people would do that. It would save a lot of time.

[common_sense_guy]

I don't think he is a criminal- he didn't mean to do it. That could have happened to any truck driver that was working those hours.

I agree. How many seniors blow through stop signs and hurt or kill people in a year in Canada as well. There's probably not too many but you know it has happened already in the past. People aren't up in arms and wanting to put them in jail for years and years are they. It's an accident. Was not intentional. The outcome was horrific but that should not take away from the fact that it was an accident that could happen to anyone under certain circumstances. I bet 90% of the people in these forums have accidentally went through a stop sign at some point in their life

[oldtrucker]

I bet 90% of the people in these forums have accidentally went through a stop sign at some point in their life

Or like coming home from the bar late at night, stopping at the stop sign and passing out behind the wheel just sitting there waiting for it to turn green.

[Gilchy]

Lets not rehash the makeup of the intersection. There is nothing to gain by it. He blew a stop sign and the result is what everybody knows it to be.

I have inadvertently blown through a stop sign. One that was well marked on a street I was familiar with but I missed it just the same. I was lucky. No one was coming. Disaster was averted. Had I and anyone else not been so lucky, different scenario.

My driving record is clean. How much punishment do I deserve?

Depends on the outcome. I would have done what this driver did. Admit my guilt and take the punishment.

Then what? I am a criminal for the rest of my life because of a momentary lapse?

He is not a criminal. He is a human being who made a horrific mistake but he stepped up and did the right thing afterward. I wish more people would do that. It would save a lot of time.

Accepted responsibility, and has to live the rest of his life with the guilt. No jail time will bring the victims back, nor change any outcomes, and deportation is cruel, let him be a productive contributing member of Canadian society is the best thing for everyone.

[oldtrucker]

and deportation is cruel,

Why is it cruel?
He would be sent back to where he came from, wouldn't he?

[t76turbo]

I completely agree with Mexi Cali’s last post. With all the misery and loss of life, this was an accident! This isn’t some good for nothen’ gang banger. This is a life that’s already destroyed, along with all others. Let him serve his time then go out and contribute to Canadian society, try and rite his wrongs that surely rest on his shoulders daily.
His marriage would most likely suffer immensely as well, now we are also punishing her. If it were one of my kids on that buss perhaps I would feel different....but;
He owned his mistake and as a class 1 driver myself, mistakes happen. As an immigrant that lived in Canada from age 13 on and only took citizenship in my late 30’s, very scary, my whole life is in Canada, so are my 3 kids and wife!

[stuphoto]

Imho it should be the victims families making the decision.
Not the courts, politicians, churches or us.
I haven't heard what they are saying yet. Has anyone else?

[Fancy]

One parent has spoken:

A former truck driver who caused the deadly Humboldt Broncos bus crash has submitted paperwork with reasons why he should not be sent back to India when he gets out of prison.

Jaskirat Singh Sidhu is now waiting for the Canada Border Services Agency to write a report that will recommend whether he be allowed to stay in his adopted country or be deported.

A grieving father of one of the hockey players killed will be waiting, too. Scott Thomas said he aches everyday for his 18-year-old son, Evan, but submitted a letter in support of Sidhu.

“I know for a fact that he’ll never drive a semi again. I know for a fact that if he could take back what happened that day he would in a heartbeat. He would trade places with any one of those boys," said Thomas.

https://www.castanet.net/news/Canada/32 ... ion#322444