Roadside Worker Safety: How Do You Look at It?

People find laws easier to follow when they understand the point, or value, of them. After surveying drivers about roadside worker safety as part of the annual Cone Zone campaign, which runs May to August, we were reminded how important this is to keep in mind.

The laws protecting roadside workers cover two types of worksites:

  • Worksites on or beside a road, cordoned off by cones.
  • “Mobile worksites” around vehicles stopped on the roadside with red, blue or amber flashing lights.

The laws are fairly simple, and revolve around slowing down and respecting traffic control (first worksite), or slowing down and moving over (second worksite).

But the survey uncovered some misconceptions that we think could be leading drivers to believe they shouldn’t have to adjust their driving near roadside workers.

Let’s take a look at four such mistaken beliefs.

I hardly ever hear of roadside workers being injured by motorists

This misconception suggests roadside workers aren’t at risk, so why bother slowing down? Fact is, between 2006 and 2015, 14 roadside workers were killed in BC and another 226 were injured, having to miss work, after being hit by motor vehicles on the job. There is a problem.

Roadside workers should be more responsible for their own safety

There is some truth to this; yes, traffic controllers and other roadside workers need to take responsibility for their safety. That can include:

    • Wearing proper high-visibility garments
    • Following proper traffic control set-up and protocol
    • Giving clear instructions to drivers
    • Avoiding distractions
    • They can do all the right things, but they can’t truly be safe without drivers contributing with their own safe actions. Roadside worker safety is a two-way street (even when traffic is single lane alternating!). No one is more responsible than the other – it’s everyone’s responsibility.

I shouldn’t need to slow down if there are no roadside workers on site

First off, how do you know for sure there are no workers on site? And, even if the site is clear of people, constructions zones can pose other challenges calling for reduced speed and increased attention: changing traffic patterns, loose gravel, narrower lanes, bumps, uneven pavement and reduced visibility, to name a few. Construction zone speed limits are there not only to protect roadside workers, but also drivers.

Roadside work should be done at off-peak hours – I shouldn’t have to deal with delays

We try to reduce traffic delays by avoiding roadwork during peak periods, when possible. Unfortunately, there’s just no way around it sometimes. Take an ongoing, large excavation needed for a project, for example. There are times when an around-the-clock lane closure is needed because the magnitude of the work doesn’t allow for opening all lanes until that particular work is fully completed. Then there’s emergency works that need to happen immediately, or equipment breakdowns that push work into rush hour periods. If you face roadwork during rush hour, it’s probably for a reason.

It takes the right mindset to protect roadside workers. It takes respect for the law, but even more so, it takes respect for the men and women whose lives depend on drivers seeing the value in their safety.

Has this changed or confirmed your perspective? Let us know.

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