With an aim to provide protection to the roadside workers, the Alberta government has made important amendments to the Traffic Safety Act which will come into force from March 1st 2023.
All the vehicle drivers travelling on multi-lane roads/highways will have to curtail the vehicle’s speed to 60km/h or to the prescribed limit while passing any emergency vehicle including snowplow operators with flashlights, tow truck or road crew.
According to the previous act, drivers in the lanes adjoining to the roadside were required to slow down.
At the same time, motorists driving vehicles on single-lane roads in either direction will also require to slow down to 60km/h or to the prescribed limit while passing any worker with a flashlight.
Th new rules will not only add to the protection of roadside workers but will also make driving confusion free and simpler for drivers. Also, it will bring down the number of accidents involving drivers and roadside workers on highways.
