Kenngineering Notes: Snowbanks launching vehices over barriers

Interesting issue around vehicles launching off snowbanks and over barriers. But while watching this video, I kept thinking we need to tweak our messaging.

“As soon as you put in an external factor such as excess speed, a tired or fatigued driver, an impaired driver, or snow or ice, then all bets are off.”

I disagree.

That way of thinking subtly accepts road trauma as inevitable. It frames crashes as individual failure rather than system failure.

Fatigue is not unpredictable.

Speed is not unique.

Snow is not a surprise in Canada.

These are known, recurring conditions. A Safe System is meant to work because they exist, not fall apart when they show up.

If a fatigued driver leaves the road, they should survive.

If a road encourages high speeds, that is a design choice.

If snow is present for months each year, the system must manage it safely.

These crashes are not freak events. They are the predictable outcome of a system that did not fully manage risk.