Drivers urged to be cautious around road workers with summer travel

With summer weather here, a road safety advocate group is urging people to be safe and cautious of workers when travelling through the Okanagan.

The group Road Safety at Work said the hustle and bustle of summer vacation often means travellers have to juggle schedules, ferry reservations, campsite check-ins and fuel stops when trying to get to their destination. These stressors lead to an average of 26,000 crashes across B.C. each July, which is the second-highest number of crashes per month after December.

The hot weather and glare from the sun can also cause driver fatigue. That, along with other distractions, can make people less likely to notice signs, cones or stopped vehicles, which put workers at risk.

“Work zones are complex, fast-changing environments. If drivers lose focus even for a moment, they can miss critical cues,” Trace Acres, spokesperson for the annual Work Zone Safety campaign managed by Road Safety at Work, said.