VPD officer dressed as construction worker in effort to get drivers to slow down

A Vancouver Police Department officer dressed as a construction worker on Monday as part of a new campaign urging drivers to slow down and pay attention to roadside workers.

The officer spotted drivers speeding or using cellphones in a construction zone.

They were pulled over and ticketed by other officers.

Police say the campaign is to protect everyone from first responders and tow truck drivers, to garbage collectors and animal control officers.

“In the last 10 years, we’ve seen 14 roadside workers killed by motor vehicle incidents and another 226 injured by being struck by a motor vehicle in a work zone,” said Mark Ordeman from WorkSafeBC.

“So those are pretty significant numbers and we want to do something about it.”