Whereas many of the highway accident scenes in unincorporated areas in BC are supported by volunteer first responders who may have limited resources to attend to the accident scene including caring for accident victims while also having to control traffic passing through the accident scene; And whereas these first responders and accident victims are regularly put at unnecessary risk by careless drivers who do not focus on their driving andor do not lower their vehicle speed to a reasonable rate while moving through an accident scene: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province consider amending the motor vehicle legislation so that the maximum speed limit for motor vehicles driving through a highway accident scene on a highway is 30 kph.
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Government is committed to keeping our first responders safe while attending accident scenes. In 2015, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure updated the Motor Vehicle Act to improve safety for all roadside workers. Motorists are required to Slow Down and Move Over, for all vehicles stopped alongside the road, which have flashing red, blue or yellow lights. Where the speed limit is 80 kmh or higher, drivers must slow to 70 kmh, if they approach a vehicle stopped at the roadside with its lights flashing, Where the limit is below 80 kmh, drivers must reduce their speed to 40 kmh. In addition, when our maintenance contractors are called out to a scene, they are required to attend and provide traffic control during emergency events as outlined in our Traffic Management Manual and WorkSafe BC regulations. This is in accordance with the Inter-Agency Motor Vehicle Response Strategic Protocol. The maintenance contractors can reduce speeds if warranted. The Ministry is not considering changes to the Motor Vehicle Act at this time.