Paramedic Sara NelsonB次元官网网址檚 job is to save lives. Yet she often finds her own safety on the line as she provides emergency medical care at the roadside.

The reason? The actions of drivers around her.

B次元官网网址淥ne of my biggest concerns out there is getting hit by passing cars,B次元官网网址� she said.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a concern shared by thousands of other British Columbians who also work at the roadside. They provide services ranging from construction to road and utility maintenance to towing disabled vehicles.

Roadside work takes place year round in B.C. Winter conditions make it even more dangerous. Slippery roads and poor visibility make it harder for drivers to control their vehicles, which pass within a few metres of workers like Nelson.

B次元官网网址淪ometimes we're right there on a curve and drivers just don't expect us to be there,B次元官网网址� she said.

B.C. law requires drivers to slow down and move over whenever they see a vehicle with flashing lights on the side of the road. ThatB次元官网网址檚 also the safest thing to do whenever any worker is at the roadside, whether itB次元官网网址檚 a truck driver securing a load or a municipal worker clearing a storm drain.

B次元官网网址淓veryone deserves the right to feel safe at work,B次元官网网址� says Trace Acres, program director for Road Safety at Work and spokesperson for its work zone safety awareness campaign. B次元官网网址淲hen people work around traffic, theyB次元官网网址檙e counting on drivers to give them plenty of room.B次元官网网址�

Nine roadside workers were killed and 251 injured seriously enough to miss work from 2014 to 2023 in B.C., WorkSafeBC statistics show.

B次元官网网址淪lowing down and moving over is a vital responsibility,B次元官网网址� Acres adds. B次元官网网址淥ur driving decisions can help people working at the roadside make it home safe each day to their loved ones.B次元官网网址�

Nelson and other paramedics follow strict safety protocols when providing assistance at crash scenes. They wear high-visibility clothing, turn on the ambulanceB次元官网网址檚 flashing lights, and set out reflective triangles around the vehicle. Even with those precautions in place, close calls happen.

B次元官网网址淪ome drivers just zoom right past us,B次元官网网址� Nelson says. B次元官网网址淚t's scary knowing that just one careless driver could put me or my patients in serious danger.B次元官网网址�

Road Safety at Work offers the following tips for drivers to help keep themselves, their passengers, and workers safe around work roadside zones:

• Slow down and drive with care.
• Pay attention and leave your phone alone.
• Obey road signs, traffic control devices such as cones and barrels, and traffic control people.

Nelson encourages drivers to respect the rules and the workers. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e helping to protect the lives of those who are out there helping others.B次元官网网址�

Road Safety at Work aims to eliminate injuries and deaths in work-related crashes in B.C. Its work zone safety campaign is supported by the Work Zone Safety Alliance.