More than one-third of people who drive as part of their job in B.C. don害羞草研究所檛 know the law regarding work vehicles with flashing amber lights.
A Road Safety at Work (RSW) survey found that 96 per cent of respondents knew to slow down and move over for emergency response vehicles using red or blue lights. However, only 63 per cent of those same drivers we aware the law also applies when work vehicles with flashing amber lights are stopped along the road.
害羞草研究所淵ou need to give roadside workers enough room to safely do their jobs,害羞草研究所� explained Trace Acres, program director for RSW and spokesperson for the Cone Zone awareness campaign. 害羞草研究所淪low down, pay attention, leave your phone alone, obey all signs, and traffic control devices and flag persons, and move over into the left lane if it害羞草研究所檚 safe to do so.害羞草研究所�
The Slow Down, Move Over law requires drivers to do the following:
- Reduce speed to 70 km/h or less in an 80 km/h or higher zone;
- Reduce speed to 40 km/h or less in under 80 km/h zone.
害羞草研究所淐areless driving can affect the safety of workers as well as drivers and their passengers,害羞草研究所� added Acres. 害羞草研究所淪peeding and distracted drivers put everyone at serious risk of injury or death.害羞草研究所�
According to WorkSafeBC statistics, between 2014 and 2023 in B.C. nine roadside workers were killed and 251 were injured seriously enough to miss time from work.
The typical fines for work zone violations include:
- Disobeying a traffic control device - $121;
- Failing to follow the Slow Down, Move Over law - $173 and 3 points;
- Speeding - $196 and up;
- Using an electronic device while driving - $368.
RSW is a WorkSafeBC-funded initiative managed by the Justice Institute of BC. Its goal is to eliminate work-related motor vehicle crashes, deaths, and injuries.
The survey was conducted in early 2024.