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Motorists urged to slow down in construction zones after worker nearly hit

May 31, 2017 | 12:32 PM

As road construction season gears up, Drayton Valley RCMP are urging motorists to drive cautiously through construction zones after an incident where a worker was nearly hit by a motorist. 

Police say on May 26 just before 12 p.m. a company doing flagging in a construction zone near the North Saskatchewan River Bridge called to report that a driver tried to avoid the construction zone, swerved erratically and nearly struck an employee. 

The flagger at the site proceeded to have a heated discussion with the driver, telling the individual about how dangerous their actions were before they sped off. 

The worker on scene was unable to provide a description of the driver but did obtain the vehicles license plate number and the company name on the vehicle, and forwarded it to the police.

Mounties say they followed up with the company and the incident will be resolved internally there.

Corporal Bryan Notheisz called the drivers’ actions dangerous, adding that people need to respect the law. 

“People need to follow signs as posted and obey all flaggers. Those actions are being taken to protect the safety of workers and the public.”

He added that the price you pay for speeding and driving recklessly in a construction zone can result in someone being killed, or a large chunk out of your wallet. 

Nothseiz used the example that speeding 20 kilometers over the posted limit would result in a fine of $167 and the loss of three demerit points. Doing the same thing in a construction zone you’ll pay double, with a fine of $335 and three demerit points gone. 

Nothseiz noted that the police see the same issue of drivers not slowing down when they have a vehicle pulled over on the side of the road.