Campaign urges drivers to slow down as road construction season gears up

Manitoba drivers are being urged to slow down and pay attention as the 2017 road construction season gets fully underway.

The annual SAFE Roads campaign was launched Friday near road repair crews on St. James Street and Maroons Road in Winnipeg.

"We chose this year's location for our campaign launch to show an active construction zone … and to give all attending the opportunity to see what it feels like to be working so close to traffic and motorists,"  said Chris Lorenc, president of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association and chair of the SAFE Roads committee. 

Jamie Hall, COO of SAFE Work Manitoba, said people are getting the message but it needs to be repeated every year.

"Campaigns like this help educate drivers and reinforce the message to slow down and use extra care when travelling in areas where workers are present," he said.

"At SAFE Work Manitoba we're well aware of the serious impact of workplace incidents, not only on injured workers but on their families, friends and colleagues."

The campaign asks motorists to be mindful of greater numbers of workers out on roadways with the start of the summer construction season.

Its message — "I Want to Make it Home, Too" — will be driven home through billboards, transit ads and other advertisements that feature emergency responders and flag persons.

"Drivers will increasingly be sharing the road with workers in the weeks ahead," said Blaine Pedersen, Manitoba's minister of infrastructure.

"We're asking Manitobans to remember that, for many workers, the road is their workplace. We all need to do our part to keep workers safe."