Date:  Monday, May 14

Time:  9:30-11:30 a.m.

Location:  Road-construction site at Fraser and East 28th, Vancouver

ON May 14, the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) will step up enforcement in a busy traffic route where roadside workers run the risk of injury. This is part of the 2018 launch of the B.C. Cone Zone Campaign.

The VPD is partnering with the Work Zone Safety Alliance and WorkSafeBC to prevent collisions and injuries to roadside workers during the high-traffic spring and summer seasons, with increased road construction.

During a morning enforcement blitz at a roadside worksite, police will be checking for cellphone use, driving without due care and attention, disobeying a flag person and construction signs, speeding and aggressive driving.

Driving violations will be issued by police resulting in hefty fines along with adding points to drivers’ records. For instance: using an electronic device while driving, including texting and emailing starts with a fine of $368 and four points; driving without due care and attention can set offenders back $368 and add six points; and speeding could cost drivers as much as $483 and three points.

Between 2008 and 2017, 12 roadside workers were killed in B.C. and 218 were injured and missed time from work as a result of being hit by a motor vehicle.

Roadside workers include landscapers, municipal workers, first responders, telecommunications workers, construction and maintenance workers, tow-truck operators, security guards and ferry workers directing traffic.

The Cone Zone campaign is a joint provincial initiative supported by organizations committed to improving the safety of roadside workers.