Airdrie residents raise questions about roadside worker safety rules

Recent discussions on local social media forums suggest that Airdrie residents continue to have questions about Alberta’s roadside worker safety rules, particularly regarding whether the rules differ between provincial highways and urban or residential roads.

According to the government of Alberta's website, "When driving in the closest lane to any stopped roadside vehicle with flashing lights activated, such as police, ambulances, fire trucks, tow trucks and maintenance trucks, including those in construction zones:

• you must move over to the far lane to give workers extra space

• if you can’t safely move over, you must slow to at least 60 km/h, or the posted speed limit (whichever is lower)."

Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen provided additional clarification in an emailed statement to DiscoverAirdrie:

"Alberta’s government has strengthened roadside safety laws to ensure every worker can get home safely. Regardless of whether they’re operating a tow truck, snowplow, or doing highway maintenance.

As of September 1 [2023], all roadside workers with flashing lights activated are protected. Drivers must move over when safe to do so, and if they can’t, they must slow down to 60 km/h or to the posted speed limit if it’s lower."

Addressing local debate about whether these rules differ between provincial highways and residential streets, Dreeshen specifically noted:

"These rules apply across the province, including provincial highways and other roadways. To ensure drivers are aware of the changes, we launched a province-wide public education campaign and introduced tougher penalties, including fines and demerits, for unsafe behaviour. This legislation is about common sense and saving lives."

According to provincial regulations, drivers who fail to comply with roadside worker safety rules could receive a $243 fine and three demerit points, plus additional speed fines. Speeding fines are doubled when construction workers or any stopped roadside vehicle with flashing lights activated are present.

For example, speeding 1 to 15 km/h over the limit can result in fines between $163 and $252; 16 to 30 km/h over carries fines of $292 to $499; 31 to 50 km/h over results in fines between $528 and $991; and speeding over 51 km/h requires a mandatory court appearance, with fines at the court's discretion.

Provincial guidelines also state: "Construction or maintenance zones will have roadway signs in advance to warn motorists that road work is being done. Even if there are no signs reminding motorists that fines will be doubled, your fine could be doubled if workers are present."

Residents are urged to approach roadside incidents with caution, maintain awareness of possible sudden stops, move over to the far lane whenever possible, obey directions from flaggers and emergency personnel, and avoid distractions.

Regulatory changes introduced in September 2023 extended equal protection to snowplow operators, maintenance crews, and tow truck drivers—alongside traditional emergency responders. The new rules stemmed from public and stakeholder feedback gathered during roadside safety consultations held in spring 2021.

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