One-third of work drivers don’t know law when they see amber flashing lights: survey
Road Safety at Work reminds drivers to slow down, move over
A new survey suggests that more than one-third of people who drive as part of their job in BC don’t know the law when they encounter work vehicles with flashing amber lights.
BC’s Slow Down, Move Over law applies whenever vehicles in a work zone have flashing red, blue, or amber lights.
The Road Safety at Work survey of people who drive as part of their job found that 96% knew they were required to slow down and move over for emergency response vehicles using red or blue lights.
But only 63% of those same drivers knew the law also applies when work vehicles using flashing amber lights are stopped along the road. Road maintenance, towing, utilities (water, sewer, and telecommunications), and waste collection are some of the types of work conducted with flashing amber lights.
“When you approach and pass by vehicles with flashing amber lights, you have certain legal responsibilities,” explains Trace Acres, program director for Road Safety at Work and spokesperson for the Cone Zone awareness campaign. “You need to give roadside workers enough room to safely do their jobs. Slow down, pay attention, leave your phone alone, obey all signs, traffic control devices and flag persons, and move over into the left lane if it’s safe to do so.”
When drivers see vehicles with red, blue, or amber flashing lights, the Slow Down, Move Over law requires them to reduce speed to:
- 70 km/h or less in an 80 km/h or higher zone
- 40 km/h or less in under 80 km/h zone
The Road Safety at Work survey was conducted in early 2024.
Speed, distractions put workers, drivers at risk
Work zones are common in BC year round. And with traffic increasing over summer, they become even more hazardous.
“Careless driving can affect the safety of workers as well as drivers and their passengers,”explains Acres. “Speeding and distracted drivers put everyone at serious risk of injury or death.”
Between 2014 and 2023 in BC, nine roadside workers were killed and 251 were injured seriously enough to miss time from work, according to WorkSafeBC statistics.
Peter Addison, a Road Assist fleet technician with BCAA, knows first-hand the risks tow truck drivers face. They’re often on the roadside to help stranded motorists or to help with emergencies. They do their job as quickly as they safely can, he says. And they often have only flashing amber lights and traffic cones to help protect them.
To enhance their safety, and the safety of first responders, BCAA uses a blocking strategy. A BCAA vehicle with flashing amber lights will be parked in front of the work site, serving as a barrier and to alert oncoming traffic to slow down and move over.
“We look out for each other,” Addison says.
No matter what strategy is used, roadside workers depend on drivers to reduce speed and give them as much room as possible, says Acres. “Like all of us, roadside workers have a job to do. Their work helps us all. And everyone deserves to get home safe to their families.”
The typical fines in BC for work zone violations include:
- Disobeying a traffic control device: $121
- Failing to follow the Slow Down, Move Over law: $173 and 3 points
- Speeding: $196 and up
- Using an electronic device while driving: $368
Road Safety at Work is a WorkSafeBC-funded initiative managed by the Justice Institute of BC. It aims to eliminate work-related motor vehicle crashes, deaths, and injuries in BC. Its annual Cone Zone campaign is supported by the Work Zone Safety Alliance, a group of private and public sector organizations committed to improving the safety of roadside workers.
For more information on driving safely in roadside work zones visit Cone ZoneBC.com.
About the Work Zone Safety Alliance
The Work Zone Safety Alliance is comprised of: Ambulance Paramedics of BC, Automotive Retailers Association, BCAA, BC Construction Safety Alliance, BC Flagging Association, BC Highway Patrol — RCMP, BC Hydro, BC Municipal Safety Association, BC Road Builders & Heavy Construction Association, BC Road Safe, Corecode Safety & Compliance, IBEW Local 258, Insurance Corporation of BC, Island Equipment Owners and Operators, Justice Institute of British Columbia, LiUNA Local 1611, Mainroad Group, Metro Traffic Management, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Road Safety at Work, SafetyDriven, Telus, The Universal Group, United Traffic Control, and WorkSafeBC.
About Road Safety at Work
Road Safety at Work offers free online resources — including courses, workshops, webinars, and consulting services — to help organizations plan, implement, and monitor effective road safety programs. Visit RoadSafetyAtWork.ca.
Media contact
Gord Woodward, Communications manager
Road Safety at Work
250-734-3652
gwoodward@roadsafetyatwork.ca