Alberta roads are going to get a bit safer for roadside workers and snowplow operators. The Alberta government just announced amendments to Bill 5 the Traffic Safety Amendment Act

Wheatland County’s Reeve Amber Link had this to say about the Bill “Road safety and the safety of personnel is a high priority across Alberta. Bill 5 considers the concerns that were raised by Albertans and is intended to protect road users and workers, create safety programs that encompass best practices, as well as a province with the highest quality road infrastructure for the transportation of people, goods, and services.” 

The bill will require drivers to slow down to 60 km/h when passing a stopped roadside worker vehicle that has its lights flashing when traveling in the same direction. Bill 5 also makes drivers passing in the opposite direction on single-lane highways slow down to 60 km/h. 

“Roadside workers work in a high-risk environment and deserve the best protection so that they can go home safely to their families at the end of their shift. That’s why, following consultations with the public and stakeholders, Alberta’s government is proposing these changes to protect all those working along our highways.” says Minister of Transportation Rajan Sawhney. 

The Alberta Motor Association reported that since December 2019, there have been 36 near misses and at least 13 serious roadside incidents involving Alberta tow trucks and passing vehicles. Collisions have resulted in injury, hospitalization, and even death. The proposed Bill will help reduce incidents on the roads. 

Motorists should be prepared to pay anywhere from $136 to $826, depending on the speed as those are the current guidelines for passing an emergency vehicle on the side of the road. Alberta’s government will conduct an educational campaign for all drivers before the bill is supposed to come into effect in Spring 2023.