Watch above: It seems Saskatoon motorists need constant reminders to slow down in construction zones as officials hand out more tickets. Jackie Wilson has the latest from the city and police about the need for safety in these zones.
SASKATOON – The final months of road construction are underway in Saskatoon and while drivers might be tired of slowing down it’s important to remember the consequences of breaking the law. Brenda Richards knows first hand the tragedy that can come from speeding through construction zones.
“It was about 10:30 at night when I got a phone call telling me that Ashley was killed, which was very hard. It still is,” says Richards, Ashley Richards’ mother.
Ashley Richards was killed in August 2012 when she was struck and killed on her first official day on the job as a flag person on a highway near Midale. The trial for the man accused of killing her, Keith Dunford, concluded earlier this month. A decision is expected on Oct. 13.
READ MORE: Trial wraps up for man accused of running over and killing flag person
Her death hasn’t been the only one in a construction zone.
This summer in Saskatchewan there have been several construction zone collisions. These include Paradise Hill, where a 17-year-old flag person was sent to hospital and Spalding, where three teenagers were killed and a 21-year-old flag person still clings to his life.
READ MORE: Three teens dead in multi-vehicle crash at Sask. construction zone
That’s just on the highways. In the city between May 1 and July 31. Saskatoon police issued 58 fines for speeding in construction zones.
The number of offences spiked in July, which is one of the busiest months for urban construction.
“We understand after a long construction season it is frustrating dealing with these delays. But it is important for us not to become complacent at this time of year. That is when some of the more serious incidents can occur,” said Angela Gardiner, the city’s director of transportation.
Construction workers can also report violations to the police when there is no physical police presence. Police have six months to follow up and lay those charges and fines.
“We do follow up with complaints we have from the workers in the zone. We do follow up with file work. We will charge and ticket people that are disobeying some of those signs,” said Staff Sgt. Judy McHarg.
Pedestrians and cyclists are subject to the same traffic controls that apply to cars. Cyclists should stop and wait for cars to pass before merging into the open lane. It is only legal and safe to proceed through work zones when it’s clearly marked and identified for cyclists.
“The rules of the roads do apply to pedestrians and cyclists as well. They need to obey all signage and stay out of work zones to ensure that everyone gets home safe at the end of the day,” said Gardiner.
- Speeding fines through construction zones start at $210.00
- Fines double the regular speeding fine rate.
- Disobeying road signs such as ‘Do not enter’ is $90.00.
- Disobeying road persons or police officers is $150.00.
But what is really important here is to remember to slow down when passing construction workers or vehicles and pay attention to work zone signage. It could save a life.
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