About Knights of the Road
Origin
The idea for this research project was inspired by some observations and by a simple question.
Fatal collisions involving semis and heavy commercial trucks are a common occurrence – we read about these in the news every week it seems. The stories in the media focus on the injured and deceased and, in some cases, the reactions of bystanders and emergency personnel, but seldom mentions the condition of the driver of the vehicle. This begged the question: So, how IS the driver doing after being involved in a fatal collision?
The researcher was familiar with the effects of trauma on various populations and professions, but a preliminary scan of academic journals showed that there were not many mental health or trauma studies about commercial truckers. The researcher’s goal to was fill this gap in scholarship by doing a study focussed on truckers’ experiences of fatal collision involvement.
Fatal collisions involving semis and heavy commercial trucks are a common occurrence – we read about these in the news every week it seems. The stories in the media focus on the injured and deceased and, in some cases, the reactions of bystanders and emergency personnel, but seldom mentions the condition of the driver of the vehicle. This begged the question: So, how IS the driver doing after being involved in a fatal collision?
The researcher was familiar with the effects of trauma on various populations and professions, but a preliminary scan of academic journals showed that there were not many mental health or trauma studies about commercial truckers. The researcher’s goal to was fill this gap in scholarship by doing a study focussed on truckers’ experiences of fatal collision involvement.
The researcher began writing the proposal in April 2017. In April 2018, the research was put on hold in the wake of the Humboldt Broncos collision. This was done for several reasons, but mainly because going ahead could be considered exploitive and disrespectful of the victims of this monumental tragedy, and because truckers could be reliving their own experiences and, therefore, be vulnerable and at too high a mental and emotional risk to take part in a study.
After the driver involved in the Broncos collision pleaded guilty and was sentenced, the research resumed.
After the driver involved in the Broncos collision pleaded guilty and was sentenced, the research resumed.
