The Vancouver Police Department, RCMP and CVSE helped kick start the Cone Zone roadside worker safety awareness campaign by setting up undercover enforcement operations at work zones around the province in May.
The #1 violation in Vancouver? Mobile phones.
Of 30 violations caught by police at 500 West Georgia Street and 700 Richards Street, 27 were for distracted driving involving mobile phones. At the Burrard Street Bridge, 44 offences were ticketed, mostly involving mobile phones and speeding.
“Some motorists/drivers are still not getting the message about the dangers of using an electronic device while driving,” says VPD Inspector Les Yeo. “It’s foolish and puts all road users at risk, including traffic controllers who are trying to get you to your destination safely.”
To blend in with the work zones and get a more authentic view of drivers’ behaviours, some officers disguised themselves as road workers.
While police focused on the average driver, CVSE monitored commercial truckers at the Burrard Bridge, Coquihalla, Highway 7 and other active construction locations around the province.
“Commercial drivers are generally respectful of roadside work zones,” says CVSE Regional Manager Steven Haywood. “Most of them understand the importance of staying alert and slowing down. After all, sometimes they are the workers on the roadside, tending to their vehicles.”
Between 2004 and 2013, 40 truck drivers were seriously injured in B.C. by passing vehicles while changing tires, putting on tire chains, or doing other vehicle maintenance tasks.
There are about 25,000 people working on B.C. roadsides this spring and summer. It’s up to all drivers to respect the Cone Zone. You can be sure that striking a worker will have a bigger impact on your life than a traffic ticket.
Take a look at this video to get an idea of what it’s like to work in a Cone Zone, and the wide range of professions that rely on your safe driving.
Do you know someone who works next to roads? Could be a paramedic, landscaper, construction worker… the list goes on. Let us know in the comments section below.
Join the discussion