Columbia Valley Pioneer staff
BC Highway Patrol and Columbia Valley’s own RCMP commander are urging drivers to slow down and move over to protect roadside workers.
In less than three hours on February 27, BC Highway Patrol targeted almost 200 drivers for violating some or all of the ‘Slow Down, Move Over’ legislation on Highway 3/95. All of the drivers were issued a “warning” in the form of an educational pamphlet.
From 2008 to 2017, 230 workers were hit by motor vehicles and 12 of those workers passed away, according to BC Highway Patrol.
Last week the nearly 200 motorists could have received a $173 violation ticket (each) for failing to slow down and move over for roadside workers.
“The goal of the operation was to improve the safety of first responders, highway maintenance workers and tow operators,” said Inspector Chad Badry, officer in charge of Kootenay Highway Patrol. “We are asking drivers to ‘slow down and move over’ to make our highways safer for emergency responders and roadside workers.”
Columbia Valley RCMP Sgt. Ed deJong told the Pioneer that everyone who works on the roadside has a concern about this on busy highways.
“In my experience the issue has been mitigated with education, but there are still instances where drivers are not slowing down and moving over when they see flashing lights; whether it be for a police officer, road maintenance worker, ambulance, fire, or a tow truck operator,” deJong said.
“This poses a serious risk to those who are required to work roadside.”