Every serious crash on the Malahat, it seems, sparks rage at the provincial government for not making the highway more safe, and at first responders for blocking traffic while the crash scene is investigated.
The government is not to blame for crashes on the Malahat. First responders are only doing the job they are required to do. Misdirected fault-finding is a useless, destructive exercise.
In a scene that has become all too familiar, the Malahat was blocked for several hours in both directions Thursday night after a northbound minivan made an illegal turn and was struck by a pickup moving in the same direction. The driver of the minivan was killed.
Many of us make bad decisions or are guilty of moments of inattention, but they don’t always end in tragedy as this one did. A human life has been lost; family, friends and neighbours are feeling pain.
Beyond that, thousands of people were inconvenienced by the closure of the highway for about three hours. It’s human nature to lash out, to want to put the blame on someone or something, and the closest targets Thursday were the first responders, who were on the receiving end of verbal abuse from frustrated motorists, even as the emergency personnel were trying to treat an injured person.
This has happened before, but Malahat Fire Chief Rob Patterson, a veteran of many crashes on that stretch of highway, says this was the worst he has experienced.
Frustration is understandable, but it does not justify such ugly and insensitive behaviour.
Keeping traffic away from a crash scene is necessary. Of paramount importance is rendering aid to the injured and transporting them to hospitals, then comes the work of determining what happened, after which the scene must be cleared.
It’s not something done in an instant. Traffic flowing past would hamper the work and, more seriously, would threaten the safety or the lives of police and paramedics. Investigators need time to do a thorough job without dodging speeding cars.
Videos abound on the Internet of what can happen when traffic continues to flow past a crash scene on a busy highway: oncoming vehicles crashing into emergency vehicles, gawking drivers veering into approaching traffic or hitting emergency personnel. It is better to delay traffic than risk compounding the death and damage.
The Malahat is a troublesome stretch of road, and the province has been pecking away at making it safer. There are constant calls to make it better, with suggestions that range from sensible to off-the-meter ridiculous. The fact remains that the Malahat traverses difficult terrain, and turning it into a four-lane highway completely free of hazards is an impossible dream.
Nor should a government try to cushion us from every possible danger. The cause of Thursday’s crash appears clear — a left turn from the far-right lane across lanes carrying traffic in both directions. It’s a move that would have been dangerous on any road, and no government actions can prevent such things from happening.
Darkness, tight corners, restricted roadways, rain and fog do not cause collisions. They are caused by drivers who do not take those conditions into account. The character of the Malahat is well known — anyone who travels it by car should drive accordingly.
We expect government to provide a certain level of safety-oriented amenities — guardrails, markings, lighting and so forth — but we cannot expect government to absolve us of personal responsibility.
