If you’re not slowing down around orange cones and hard hats, you’d better do so quickly.
Vancouver Police have teamed up with WorkSafe BC to kick off the summer road work season on Monday by hosting a “Cone Zone” event in which officers dress up like flaggers to check for dangerous driving habits that put flaggers and roadside workers at risk.
Some of those include cellphone use, driving without due care and attention, disobeying a flag person and constructions, speeding and aggressive driving.
“With the increase in road work at this time of year across the province, I can’t stress enough the need for all drivers to slow down and use caution in construction zones,” said Transportation Min. Claire Trevena in a statement.
“The people carrying out this important road work are in a vulnerable position, and they deserve our patience and full attention.”
Monday’s enforcement blitz will be located at a construction site near Fraser and East 28th but that’s not the only spot where they’ll be found. Similar safety checks will take place throughout the region during the summer 2018 safety campaign but next time, there won’t be advance warning.
Violators will be issued fines and points on their driving record. Fines range from $368 and four points for using an electronic device or driving without care and attention, up to $483 and three points for speeding.
Between 2008 and 2017, a dozen roadside workers were killed and 218 were injured across B.C. after being hit by a vehicle.
By law, drivers must slow down around roadside workers which include construction workers, flaggers, landscapers, municipal workers, first responders, telecommunications workers, maintenance workers, tow-truck operators, security guards and ferry workers directing traffic.