Road Safety at Work is urging drivers to slow down, leave phones alone and follow directions as summer vacation in B.C. ramps up.
The provincial organization said hot weather and glare can increase driver fatigue, while distractions inside and outside the vehicle can make drivers less likely to notice signs, cones or stopped vehicles.
The combination of these risks and work zones creates little margin for driver error.
Trace Acres, spokesperson for the annual Work Zone Safety campaign managed by Road Safety at Work as well as an Okangan local said work zones are complex, fast-changing environments.
“If drivers lose focus even for a moment, they can miss critical cues,” Acres said. “And that’s when people get hurt.”
According to WorkSafeBC statistics, 11 roadside workers were killed and 263 more sustained injuries resulting in time loss claims from 2016 to 2025.
“You need to be ready to respond at any moment,” Acres added. “If you’re distracted, speeding or not paying attention to flag persons and signage, you may not have enough time to react safely.”
He added that a moment of inattention can have life-changing consequences.
