Manitoba launches safety campaign for road workers

WINNIPEG – The government of Manitoba has launched its annual SAFE Roads campaign, a joint initiative to raise awareness of the safety of workers on Manitoba’s roads.
The campaign is targeted at motorists across Manitoba, reminding them to slow down when driving past road construction projects and when sharing the road with emergency workers such as firefighters, hydro workers, paramedics and police officers.

"As summer approaches, we need to remember to slow down and be aware of what’s going on in construction zones," said Minister of Family Services and Labour Jennifer Howard. “For many construction and emergency workers, our roads are their workplaces.”

The SAFE Roads campaign kicked off last week in Winnipeg. Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation Steve Ashton reminded drivers to exercise caution and slow down. "With all of the construction projects going on in the province, it's important to keep an eye out for construction and emergency workers."

The SAFE Roads campaign includes billboard ads to encourage speeding motorists to slow down and raise awareness of Manitoba’s roads as a workplace. The ads feature the message "This is my workplace. Slow down."

"SAFE Roads is essential to helping increase safety and health awareness for construction, city and emergency workers," said Winston Maharaj, the province's Workers' Compensation Board president and CEO. “We want everyone to make it home safely after work, no matter where their workplace is."

The Highway Traffic Act supports the SAFE Roads campaign by setting additional penalties for failing to slow down in construction zones. Offenders caught speeding will have an additional five dollars added to the base fine for every kilometre recorded over the speed limit.

"Encouraging motorists to practice safety on our roadways takes all of us," said Manitoba Heavy Construction Association president and SAFE Roads Committee chair Chris Lorenc. "Slow down when passing road workers or emergency responders."

Initiated by the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association, SAFE Roads is a joint safety effort by the following community stakeholders:

• City of Winnipeg
• City of Winnipeg Public Works
• City of Brandon
• Construction Safety Association of Manitoba (CSAM)
• CUPE Manitoba
• CUPE Local 500
• Manitoba Floodway Authority/East Side Road Authority
• Manitoba Government Employees Union (MGEU)
• Manitoba Heavy Construction Association (MHCA)
• Manitoba Hydro
• Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation (MIT)
• Winnipeg Fire & Paramedics Service (WFPS)
• Winnipeg Police Service (WPS)
• Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba (WCB)
• WORKSAFELYTM MHCA