HUMBOLDT —The provincial coroners service is calling for seatbelts on buses, a review of its body identification process and improved enforcement of regulations after investigating the Humboldt Broncos crash.
The investigation report, released Feb. 25, determined the cause of death for the 16 who died in the April 6, 2018 collision was the motor vehicle collision. It added the manner of death was accidental.
In a recommendation addressed to Transport Canada, the coroners service recommended it create regulations mandating the installation of seatbelts in highway public transport buses.
Transport Canada announced last year that the department will require all newly built highway buses to have seatbelts by September 2020.
In recommendations to the chief coroner and the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the service is calling for a review of policy and standard operating procedures with respect to identifying the deceased in a mass fatality event.
The coroners service is calling for SGI to work with the trucking industry to implement standardized training for drivers – something that the province has announced will start in March. It also recommended Transport Canada develop regulations to enhance driver training codes and electronic logging devices, and for the Saskatchewan Highway Patrol to review its policies to ensure stricter compliance with regulations for commercial vehicle drivers.
Finally, the service recommended the highways ministry examine its policies in connection to installation of traffic control devices and signs at and near intersections.
The chief coroner is not calling for a public inquest.
