Alberta has put the brakes on rules that would have forced all drivers traveling in the same direction on multi-lane roads to slow down when passing roadside workers.
Alberta Motor Association called the decision very disappointing and at odds with the concerns of Albertans who responded to a 2021 government survey, as well as legislation unanimously passed in the spring of 2022.
“We just owe it to those workers, as well the Albertans that they’re responding to, that we’re doing all we can from a safety perspective,” said Jeff Kasbrick, AMA vice-president of advocacy and operations.
“We’re talking about real people — brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles — that are essential tow operators, or first responders, or other roadside workers at the side of the road, who commit every single day to having Albertans’ backs and to supporting them in sometimes the most distressing circumstances.”
The province was expected to put the new rules into effect on March 1, but decided in February to delay implementation until Sept. 1. saying that the changes were extensive and more time was needed to educate the public.
Instead, Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister Devin Dreeshen announced on Monday that only drivers in the lane closest to any roadside worker vehicle stopped at the side of the road with its lights flashing must slow down to 60 km/h or the posted speed limit, whichever is lower, effective Sept. 1.
Drivers must also move over to the far lane if it’s safe to do so and take reasonable steps to allow other drivers to move over.
A rule to slow down in the lane adjacent to first responders and tow truck operators was already in place, but come September it applies to all roadside workers, like maintenance workers and snowplow operators.
Related:
Speed reduction to protect safety of roadside workers delayed until September
“We want to make sure the rules are the same on the road. Regardless of the colour of the flashing light. Regardless of who is actually working on the side of the road,” said Dreeshen said during a press conference in Sherwood Park.
When asked why the UCP’s previous plan was scraped, Dreeshen said Albertans were consulted, and studies show that disruptions to the flow of traffic are always the most dangerous areas.
“A free-flowing continuous flow of traffic at the same speed is the safest so that’s why we wanted to limit that disruption.”
Dreeshen also questioned how easy it would be for several lanes to slow down, for example the five southbound lanes on Hwy 2 outside Edmonton.
Kasbrick said having all lanes slow down for just a few seconds while passing a roadside scene would reduce the risk of a vehicle travelling at full speed behind a slower vehicle. Alberta could also have figured out how to reduce the burden on motorists in the furthest lanes by looking at other provinces with similar rules already in place.
“We absolutely applaud and welcome the expansion of Alberta’s Slow Down and Move Over framework to include additional highway and roadside safety workers.
“We need to be making sure everyone gets home safe. Unfortunately, that’s not what was announced today,” said Kasbrick.
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The province said there were 2,229 injuries involving workers being struck by a vehicle between 2014 and 2018 according to Alberta’s Workers’ Compensation Board.
Between March 2018 and March 2021, there were about 130 collisions involving snowplows contracted by Transportation and Economic Corridors.
During the winter of 2022-23, there were 37 collisions involving a government-contracted snowplow.
Failure to comply with the Sept. 1 rules can result in a fine and three demerit points:
• $243 and three demerit points for failing to slow down to the maximum speed limit when passing stopped roadside workers.
• $243 fine and three demerit points for failing to allow other drivers to move into a traffic lane farther from a stopped emergency vehicle, tow truck or roadside work vehicle.
• $324 and three demerit points for unsafe passing of snowplows.
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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