Imagine sitting at your desk while 4,000 pounds of glass and steel speed past you hundreds of times a day. Sounds pretty scary, doesn’t it? For highway construction workers, it is just another day on the job.
“Work zone safety is important, not only for motorists, but for those risking their lives to build and maintain our province’s roads, and keep them safe for everyone,” said Joe Hargrave, Minister responsible for SGI. “Summer is peak construction season, so speeding in work zones is the focus of SGI’s July traffic safety spotlight. Police will be paying close attention to vehicles travelling through work zones. In addition, photo speed enforcement is set up in highway construction zones to catch speeders. Keep your eyes peeled for signage.”
“Remember to slow down to 60 km/hr or according to the posted speed limit, even when no workers are present,” said David Marit, Highways and Infrastructure Minister. “It may seem frustrating; however, if there is a reduced speed limit, it is usually because there are safety hazards present.”
Some of these work zone hazards include lane reductions, sharp pavement drops, loose stones, or completed roadwork that needs time to dry and could be slippery at high speeds. Obeying the posted speed will help keep you safe and your vehicle free from damage.
In 2015, there were 229 collisions in work zones around the province, resulting in 68 injuries and three deaths.
