Hampstead is only 10 or 12 miles from Stratford, where I live, and I have passed through there many times.  There are only a few houses there.

 

In the Stratford Beacon Herald tonight they said that OPP had recently begun a programme to stop drivers from running stop signs in rural areas.  That may not have happened in this case but it is a big problem.  Drivers seem to assume that nothing is coming.  They said there has been a big increase in the number of fatal accidents in rural areas.

 

It was a terrible tragedy. 

There appears to be safety concerns  with this type of van.

 

The vans are safe as any other vehicle…..they just think carrying too many people in one of them is too hazardous if there is an accident. But even if this van had been a school bus (and some farms around here use them for migrant workers)…..when you’re hit broadside by a tractor trailer hauling a flatbed and doing 90K….the results will be just about the same.

 

There was an interesting article about safety conditions with migrant workers and I think it may have more validity than how safe a cargo van is. Two points were mentioned …..a) that the workers work long hours and the van drivers are probably tired and not as alert…..b) a lot of migrant farm workers come from countries where they drive like they are in a constant race, road signs are ignored if they are even there…..so they may bring that style of driving here.

 

On top of what a disaster this was, two more factors were told yesterday. The workers that were killed were all from the same related families in Peru. Practically a whole village of women and children there now do not have any income to live. Also the transport driver that was killed…..the day it happened was his and his wife’s 11th wedding anniversary.

 

Makes one think…..appreciate what you have.

Safety of the van? Really? What does that have to do with anything. A driver did something illegal. A deliberate act and it is the fault of the van?

 

By whatever decision making process: tired, non-attentive, didn't look, didn't see, didn't care, distracted, unskilled driver, etc, the driver of the van decided to put the van in front of the truck.

 

There is no such thing as an "accident". Someone has to decide to do something wrong. Early reports are that the van driver did something wrong. It doesn't matter what these poor people where in, they were doomed due to the actions of someone else

You've forgotten more than you will ever know. My MIL

His Muslim Watch sites must be down for the day.

Ontario Provincial Police say the driver of the van in the fatal Perth County crash failed to stop for a stop sign.

 

That's happened around here many times. A man I knew....went through a dirt road stop sign that he had gone through MANY times and was broadsided by a truck pulling a flatbed with a backhoe. Humans will be humans and sometimes they just don't think. I drive country roads all the time (I prefer them) and I am very cautious at corners....especially if there is something on the corner like a house or bushes or high crops. You have to drive defensively out in the boonies.

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/driver/classes.shtml

 

Did anyone watch Canadas Worst Driver?

there was an episode they had people cavort about in a schoolbus. It was a typical school bus, all they had to do was blank out the word SCHOOL and anyone with a valid class G license in Ontario is OK to drive it.

Since this was a passenger van "equipped to carry 15 passengers safely" and not a bus, any one of the crew, or anybody else for that matter, with a valid class G Ontario license, could have driven the van in the story IMO

 

condolences to the families ...

"Fascism should rightly be called Corporatism, as it is the merger of corporate and government power"

Benito Mussolini

Must be some fine print clarification that stipulates no more than certain number with a G license.

 

That's possible but it really doesn't make any difference because the van is just an extended van....no weight difference and no motor or drive train difference, no braking difference than one anyone can buy off a lot and drive it with one person or 14. Some people are nitpicking when the fact is.....he blew the stop sign, that's it in a nutshell......and he would have done that no matter what letter he had on his diver's license.

People make mistakes......do dumb things.......that's life. Who hasn't made a mistake driving? No one. Some got lucky.....others didn't. If one of the men still living is the driver he will have to carry a moment of inattention with him is whole life.....because these men who died were not only friends but from what the media said also extended relatives.

This sad situation has been autopsied enough.

 If one of the men still living is the driver he will have to carry a moment of inattention with him is whole life

 

The driver is dead.

 

My son got a call about 6 hours after the crash.  HIs best friend for the past 15 years was one of the Para-Medics on the scene.  His patient was one of the five who died at the scene - in spite of the efforts of the medics.  He was crying when he called.  He said nothing they taught him in school could have prepared him for what he saw.  He said he expects he will not sleep for many nights.  He also expects to have nightmares for a long time - maybe forever.  He said that, for a long time to come, he will wonder what awaits him on the next call.  He hopes he never sees this type of accident ever again. 

 

There are many victims beyond the primary ones.  May God be with them and bring them peace.

“I have decided to stick to love...Hate is too great a burden to bear.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.

It "sounds" as if the driver of the van "blew thru the stop sign", as some have called it. One report stated the truck driver attempted to avoid hitting the van but was unable to. This may explain the appearance of the transport nearly flipped upside down as though he was pulling to one side to try to avoid hitting the van. In any case, it's all very tragic and sad, indeed, for everyone including first responders.

a) that the workers work long hours and the van drivers are probably tired and not as alert…..b) a lot of migrant farm workers come from countries where they drive like they are in a constant race, road signs are ignored if they are even there…..so they may bring that style of driving here.

 

I have had the pleasure of working with a number of groups of migrant workers.  They are no different than Canadian workers.  They want a days pay for a days work.  As with Canadian workers, a small percentage come here and do not want to work very much - I have only encountered one.  It is very difficult to send them back.  It can affect the workers future, but can also affect the farmers ability to access more workers in the future.  One has to have a very strong case.

 

Migrant workers are brought into this country are brought in through a government agency.  There are many rules involving hours and working conditions.  These "rules" are occasionally "policed" but rarely.  They are paid less than Canadian minimum wage, however, they get accomodations and a meal allowance which form part of their pay.  They receive a small portion of their pay while in Canada.  The rest is forwarded to their home country (their families) - the workers do not have a choice in this.

 

They work the same hours as Canadian workers in similar positions.  Their hours are restricted - many would work 20 hours a day if you let them. 

 

Most do not have a valid drivers licence - from any country.  They are poor and have no access to a vehicle in their home country.  They usually have no experience driving on any roads, anywhere.  They usually buy a bicycle and ride it on country roads (usually without lights).  Their have been a number of incidents of migrant workers being killed at night, while riding their bikes.  Rules may have changed, but during my day, migrant workers could not get an Ontario drivers licence. 

 

The poultry industry has always had trouble finding workers to do certain jobs - vaccinating chickens and turkeys.  Catching and loading chickens in preparation for processing.  The work is usually done at night.  Poultry are easier to handle and experience less stress in the dark with low light.  In summer, it is cooler in the barns at night.  It is cooler for trucking poultry at night. 

 

Migrant workers have been a real benefit for poultry farmers. 

 

In the good old days, catchers would arrive at a pick-up location sometime in the evening (depending on distance to be travelled).  I have seen crews drive four hours, one way to catch chickens.  On those nights that I was at the pick-up site, the crew would not get into the van unless there was a 2-4 of beer on board.  It was not uncommon for them to smoke marijuana enroute.  It was rare for a truck to leave with a full crew.  Usually one or two failed to show.  Chicken catching is a dirty job!!!!

 

Migrant workers are reliable, do not drink while they are working (or to or from work), and put in a good effort and are careful with the birds. 

 

I have now way of knowing anything about the Brian's crew that was in the accident.  But, they

 

 

“I have decided to stick to love...Hate is too great a burden to bear.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.

If we deny them health coverage because the paperwork didn't get done, what kind of a society are we? It's not a question of entitlement; it's a matter of humanity.

 

Migrant workers are given an OHIP card when they arrive.  They do not have to apply for it.  They are also provided with other paperwork to carry as ID.  Many of these migrant workers have been coming to Canada for years and usually end up working for the same farmer year-after-year. 

 

Good article, but this reporter maybe should have done a little research and waited a day or two to write it. 

 

 

“I have decided to stick to love...Hate is too great a burden to bear.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.