Roadside worker safety engagement

Overview

We gathered input on ways we can improve safety for Albertans whose job involves working on the side of the road or in a slower moving vehicle, such as a snowplow.

Between 2014 and 2018, there were 2,229 injuries involving workers being struck by a vehicle in Alberta. There were also around 30 collisions per year involving snowplows.

First responders, tow truck operators and construction crews are currently protected under the Traffic Safety Act, while highway maintenance workers, such as snowplow operators, are not.

Feedback was collected on topics such as:

• safe passing or move-over laws
• passing speed of vehicles
• road space between passing vehicles and workers
• methods to increase visibility
• increasing fines or penalties