Impact Attenuator from Signalisation Choquette & Fils Prevents Tragedy on Highway 35 – Veteran truck driver Jacques Dubé, employed by Signalisation Choquette & Fils, recently experienced a situation that underscores the constant risks faced by traffic control workers on our roads.
While he was protecting a lawn-mowing crew on Highway 35 South, a box truck collided with the impact attenuator attached to his vehicle, pushing the truck further into the ditch. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported, thanks to the attenuator effectively absorbing the impact.
Impact attenuators, though often underappreciated, play a vital role in roadway safety. These devices are engineered with fluid chambers designed to absorb high-force impacts, minimizing damage. They are built to perform in high-speed situations, such as those frequently encountered during mobile work on highways.
This incident sheds light on the often-overlooked and undervalued role of traffic control teams like the one Jacques Dubé was part of. These crews are regularly at the forefront, ensuring the safety of mobile workers. However, despite safety measures, drivers don’t always slow down in the presence of flashing yellow lights on traffic control vehicles—something that is not only required by law but is also a matter of life and death.
In Quebec, current regulations reserve blue flashing lights exclusively for police vehicles. Under these laws, no other vehicle is permitted to use such lights. Traffic control professionals, especially those working on mobile operations, are advocating for a change in these rules to include their vehicles, encouraging drivers to slow down. However, no legislative changes have been made to allow this yet. With increasingly busy roads, it is crucial to better protect these workers, as the risks are real.
The impact attenuator that may have saved the lives of Jacques Dubé and others on Highway 35 highlights the critical importance of these safety devices. Yet, these protections cannot replace driver attentiveness. It’s essential that every motorist respects traffic signs to avoid turning worksites into danger zones. Hands on the wheel, eyes on the road!
