STAY SAFE WHEN OUT ON ROADS

Not again. Those two words leaped to mind when a crash between a bus and a semi hauling grain was reported last Friday night. According to RCMP, 16 workers were on the bus when the collision took place Friday around 4 p.m. at the intersections of highways 21, 31 and 51. Three of the 10 who were taken to hospital in Kerrobert were later transported to Saskatoon — two by STARS Air Ambulance and one by vehicle. Fortunately, this time, no lives were lost.

The crash happened just days after the Humboldt Broncos played their first game since the April collision involving the hockey team’s bus and a transport truck at a rural Saskatchewan highway intersection. Sixteen people were killed and 13 players were injured in that crash.

That tragedy will remain top of mind for many years to come. So it should. And it should also continue to prompt the province into a positive response. Friday’s crash again highlights the importance of first responders — including volunteer units — in Saskatchewan.

Among those assisting after the crash near Kerrobert were Wilkie, Unity, Dodsland, Biggar, Kindersley, Kerrobert EMS and STARS; Kerrobert, Unity and Kindersley RCMP, and Kerrobert Towing & Storage.

We need to thank the employees and volunteers at these agencies for their service. We are sure that call was a very stressful one in light of recent history. Just as residents of this province were generous in donating after the Broncos’ crash, volunteer organizations need the full support of both public and private funding.

The need for defensive driving and understanding the dangers found on the roads also needs to stay top of mind. We are headed into October — one of the two months of the year when the most severe collisions and the most traffic deaths occur, according to SGI.

SGI’S website warns that, “Unlike main highways, ...(grid, municipal and resource access) roads are not designed to permit you to get out of trouble if you happen to be travelling faster than the posted speed limit.”

The organization also points out that sight lines are often shorter, railway crossings are tougher to see and gravel can make driving more tricky. Wildlife, livestock and slow-moving farm vehicles can also bring hazards.

The people of Saskatchewan will be healing from the events of April 6, 2018, for a very long time. Staying safe on the roads is something we all can do to help the process.