Transport truck crashes dominate northeastern Ontario roads

Morning North7:42Transport trucks not at fault in most collisions

Even though transport trucks are involved in a majority of crashes on northern highways, police say they are largely not at fault. The CBC's Megan Thomas spoke about transport collisions with Brian Pattison. He spent years on the road and trains drivers.

Brian Pattison knows first hand what can go wrong for someone behind the wheel of a big rig.

"There was a young couple that pulled out in front of me, and I hit them, basically t-boned them on old Highway 69," Pattison said. "It wasn't a good result. The girl died."

There was no way for Pattison to avoid the fatal crash,but even years laterit's still difficult to talk about.

"It hits home for sure. There's no two ways about it."

INTERACTIVE:When and where collisions happen on highways in the northeast

It's ascenario that is far too common on highways in the northeast, said OPP Inspector Mark Andrews.

Transport trucksare involved in the majority of collisions in this region, he said, but not usuallybecause of something a truck driver has done.

"[Transports] are involved in almost 80 per cent of our collisions. And, almost all of them, like less than 10 per cent,are the truck driver's fault," he said.

Investigations often show a passenger car has drifted across the centre line,or someone has been in a hurry to pass a slower moving truck, he added.

Distracted drivers 'big dilemma'

Pattison now trains new transport drivers at the Northern Academy of Transportation Training in Lively. He said during the course work new drivers are faced with the reality they may be involved in a fatal collision while on the job.

During his time behind the wheel, Pattisonsaid the most unnerving driving behaviour was pressure from passenger cars to pass on two-lane sections of highway.

"You would know aggressive drivers that were behind you that wanted to pass," he said. "I would just either helpthem by or slow down when I knew it was safe for them to get by."

However,Pattison said the amount of distracted driving he sees on the roadnow concerns him much more.In his mind,the highways are only as safe as the people who drive them.

"The biggest dilemma is not the roads, it's the people behind the wheel for sure."