The summer months are almost upon us and hopefully that will mean we will have lots of sunshine in our future.
But it also means our local construction crews will be working around the clock on our West Shore road networks getting as much done before the rain and colder temperatures return.
Last week’s crash that led to non-life threatening injuries for one flagger shouldn’t be ignored and fortunately it wasn’t a crash that was much worse or even deadly.
There are many moving parts at these sites and it is crucial that drivers pay attention to those directing them, someone’s life my depend on it. It’s equally important that motorists reduce their speeds. Often a temporary limit will be in place for areas that crews will be working in for an extended time such as the construction zone on the Trans-Canada Highway.
While it may seem slow to some, these reduced speeds have been proven to save lives, it also gives motorists more time to react. At the very least, slowing down will force those behind you to do so and maybe just snap their attention back to the road.
But it’s not just in construction zones that motorists need to be exercising extra caution. Lots of vehicles will be on the roads over the course of the summer and that may mean more people needing roadside assistance.
If you do come across one of these vehicles, you need to slow down and move over. It’s a relatively new law that many motorists aren’t observing.
In B.C. motorists are required to slow down and move over for all vehicles stopped on the side of the road that have flashing red, blue or yellow lights. That includes police, fire, tow truck operators, mainenance workers, utility workers, Commerical Vehicles Safety Enforcement personnel, land surveyors, animal control workers, garbage collectors and many others.
If you do encounter one or more of these individuals the law requires you to change to another lane if safe to do so when passing and reduce your speed.
So slow down when you see someone working. They shouldn’t have to worry about making it home at the end of their shift.