GERALDTON — An ironworker who has been traveling Highway 11 for 25 years has noticed that driver safety has become a major concern.
Chris Jarabak, on Tuesday, witnessed a transport truck hit a guardrail causing both directions of Highway 11 between Geraldton and Longlac to be blocked around 6 p.m.
Jarabak said witnessing the collision has left him feeling frustrated.
“I don’t understand why an accident like this would occur when the speed limit on that stretch of highway is 70 kilometres. I just don’t know what to say. These transport drivers do not drive the speed limit," he said.
“Something has to be done. These accidents all have to do with speed.”
He believes these accidents keep happening especially during the winter months because “these transport drivers can’t drive according to weather conditions.
He added that in his opinion, “Salt doesn’t work on these highways. When the temperature is extremely cold, and it’s been -35 degrees a lot this winter, the salt just doesn’t work. Sand doesn’t stay on the highway either when there are high winds. So, these transport drivers have to drive according to the weather conditions, but they don’t.”
Recent public concern over the rising number of accidents that have occurred on these highways has certainly been voiced, especially this past year.
Jarabak reaffirms these concerns, having witnessed so many accidents involving transport trucks over the years while driving these highways for work.
Let’s hope that all drivers, follow the speed limit and drive according to weather conditions so that everyone is safe when having to drive our Northern highways, including Highway 11.
