BCAA

FALL 2017 BCA A .COM 29 drive smart AUTOMOTIVE TIP! For more information on Slow Down and Move Over, visit the BC Government Rules of the Road page: www2.gov. bc.ca/gov/content/ transportation KNOW THE LAW: SLOW DOWN AND MOVE OVER In British Columbia, motorists are required to slow down and move over for all vehicles stopped alongside the road that have flashing red, blue or yellow lights. This includes maintenance workers, utility workers, police, fire, ambulance, tow trucks, Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement personnel, land surveyors, animal control workers, garbage collectors and other roadside workers. Motorists must slow their speed to: • 70 km/h when in an 80 km/h or over zone • 40 km/h when in an under-80 km/h zone If travelling on a multi-lane road, and where it's safe to do so, drivers must also move into another lane to pass when going by stopped vehicles with flashing lights. Failure to observe these rules can result in a fine of $173 and three demerit points. His death prompted a group of roadside- worker organizations, including CAA, to lobby the Saskatchewan government – successfully – to allow tow trucks to use blue lights on their vehicles in conjunction with their traditional amber ones. In the 10-year period from 2004 to 2013, no fewer than 239 BC roadside workers were struck by passing vehicles, and 15 lost their lives. So it's easy to see how nerve-racking it can be for first responders and roadside workers like Lam (see the list of roadside professions in the sidebar). Over time he has learned to do his job almost "by feel," he says, keeping one eye on traffic at all times. In an effort to reduce injuries and save lives, BC and provinces across Canada have introduced Slow Down and Move Over legislation that makes it mandatory for passing motorists to slow down and give roadside workers enough room to do their job in safety. According to Dave Weloy, BCAA's Senior Manager of Fleet Operations, the legislation has led to increased awareness, but more still needs to be done. "About half of drivers surveyed say they have been impacted by messaging about Slow Down Move Over," he says, "but you have to keep reinforcing it to those who have heard it, and getting it out to those who haven't, or who have but don't obey it." A good example of "not getting it" was in evidence in Kelowna last year, when RCMP created a mock work zone at the side of the highway. To be fair to passing motorists, they set it up exactly one kilometre after a sign reminding motorists of the law. Nevertheless, over a two-hour period police issued 60 violation tickets. To promote both knowledge and compliance, not to mention a little empathy "If you see something on the road that might slow you down, understand that it's probably someone like me; someone who just wants to get home to his family at the end of the day." for roadside workers, BCAA and other members of the Work Zone Safety Alliance participate in awareness campaigns. These include advertising in various media – including on the sides of buses – as well as unique programs, like one staged at the Cloverdale Rodeo, where kids got to ride go-karts around specially designed cone-zone race tracks while their parents learned about the law. "It's all part of our ongoing efforts to prevent injuries and death among roadside workers," says Weloy. In the meantime, BC drivers would do well to heed a little messaging from those on the front lines, like Lam. "Be a little more patient," he says. "Plan ahead to give yourself more time to get where you're going, and if you do see something on the road that might slow you down, understand that it's probably someone like me trying to help out another motorist; someone who just wants to get home to his family at the end of the day."

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