That looks horrific

No guardrails or any type of barrier around the poll

That is one heck of a pole they hit. Sheared through the front axle, tore through about 2/3 the length of the bus and was stopped by the rear axle and yet the sign appears to be still vertical.

penetrated the bus!

Good point, what a fucking terribly engineered/designed pole to have at a roadside almost on the road.

Poles cost less than people.

I thought...well, I know, that some light poles are designed to shear off at the base...I suppose you really can't do that do a sign post that large...

Surely having it fall over in a collision would be safer than remaining completely rigid?

I think that's why light poles are designed to give way (not an engineer)---but again; how do you make such a large sign post "breakaway" and still have it support all that weight?

Whatever the failings of "auto driving" technology, I assume it would do better here than the human did...