RCMP join push for safe driving in construction zones

As part of the BC government’s ongoing commitment to road safety, speed limits and safe driving habits in constructions zones are now being enforced by an increased RCMP presence.

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Shirley Bond and Corporal Jamie Chung of the RCMP announced the move because of concern for the safety of the traffic control persons whose lives are continually at risk on road construction projects.

Minister Bond assured the province’s drivers that speeding and reckless driving in or around construction zones will not be tolerated. “The Ministry will be alongside traffic control persons and construction workers to enforce this message,” she affirmed. “We want to make certain drivers slow down and drive with caution to ensure traffic control persons working in construction zones can do their jobs safely.”

Corporal Chung said “Improving road safety is a priority for the RCMP. Both the RCMP and the Flagging Association are on the same page and we both want traffic control people to feel safe at their job sites. … Traffic control people are out on the road to keep the motoring public safe while going through construction sites. Please obey all traffic signs and directions from traffic control people to keep them safe.”

The increased enforcement measures include the following:

• Increased speed enforcement in active construction zones where traffic control personnel are present.
• Targeting distracted drivers using illegal handheld devices or operating their vehicles unsafely.
• Installing additional speed reader boards in high-traffic construction zones across the province to alert drivers to slow down and drive with caution.

Drivers should be alert for traffic pattern changes in construction zones, obey instructions from traffic control persons and obey posted speed limits. Motorists caught driving 40 km/h over the posted speed limit will have their vehicles impounded for 7 days and will face escalating penalties for repeat offences. Up till now, fines in British Columbia for speeding in a construction zone have been up to $483.

“Traffic control persons work day in and day out in all sorts of conditions to help keep road construction workers and motorists safe,” said Ms. Bond. “Their own safety is of paramount importance to me, and I thank them for the pivotal role they’ve played as we work together to ensure the men and women who perform traffic control can work safely.”

BC Flagging Association for Traffic Control People spokesperson, Diane Herback said, “Words cannot adequately express how grateful the … association is to the province and the RCMP for improving the safety of workers and motorists in construction zones. This added enforcement will make motorists drive with extra caution and allow us to remain safe at work.”