The government of Saskatchewan want to reassure the families of those that died or injured in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash that it will not be relaxing rules for truck driving licences.
In a letter written to the families who raised concerns about rule change, Don Morgan, the cabinet minister responsible for Saskatchewan Government Insurance wrote: “As you noted, concerns have been raised about the shortage of drivers in the trucking industry.
“However, safety is of the utmost importance and no changes are being contemplated that will compromise safety on our roads.”
On April 6, 2018, no fewer than sixteen people were killed while 13 others were injured after a transport truck and a bus conveying the junior hockey team collided at a rural intersection.
In a recent letter written to the government of Saskatchewan, 24 of the families made it known they were against the possibility of the province cancelling the need for a Class 5 driver’s licence before getting a Class 1 commercial driver’s licence.
The letter’s authors, Celeste Leray-Leicht and Kurt Leicht, whose son Jacob died in the crash wrote: “The driver of the semi-trailer truck who caused the horrific crash was grossly underqualified to drive the semi-truck. He is one of an increasing number of untrained and unskilled drivers who are the cause of accidents causing deaths and injuries on Saskatchewan roads and highways.”
According to the family, changing driving credentials to make it easier for new drivers to acquire a Class 1 driver’s licence is not in the best interests of anybody travelling on Canadian roads.
But Morgan said that is not going to happen in his recent letter to the families.
He wrote: “I assure you there are no plans to remove the requirement for a driver to hold a fully experienced Class 5 driver’s licence prior to obtaining a Class 1 licence, or for any other changes that would make it easier for new drivers to obtain a Class 1 licence.
“It is critical drivers have experience with regular passenger vehicles before attempting to operate much larger, more complex vehicles.”
Morgan said any new driver trying to obtain a Class 1 license is required to complete the compulsory entry-level training program, which consists of 121.5 hours of instruction.
He commended the Broncos families for their unwavering focus on traffic safety and “your efforts to prevent other families from experiencing the same pain you are enduring.”
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