WHEREAS the volume of traffic on municipal roads is increasing; and

WHEREAS many vehicle operators do not reduce their speed when passing or approaching municipal equipment, which poses a danger to municipal employees and to themselves;

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM request the Provincial Government to enact legislation requiring vehicle operators to reduce their speed to 60 kph when passing or approaching municipal equipment.

Response from Honourable Don McMorris, Minister of Highways and Infrastructure

This Resolution requests the province enact legislation requiring motorists to slow to 60 kph when passing or approaching municipal equipment when that equipment is undertaking the repair or maintenance of municipal roads.

The provincial authority to establish speed zones is found in The Traffic Safety Act, an Act administered by Saskatchewan Government Insurance.

For response, by copy of this letter I am referring Resolution No. 19-13M to my colleague the Honourable Donna Harpauer, Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Government Insurance.  I am confident Minister Harpauer or her officials will respond shortly.

The safety of those tasked with on-road repair and maintenance is an important issue and the government appreciates the SARM's attention to this matter.

Response from Honourable Donna Harpauer

I am pleased to advise that The Traffic Safety Act currently contains several safety provisions regarding passing highway workers and highway equipment.  These provisions also apply to municipal workers.  Section 219 (7) of the The Traffic Safety Act states that, "No driver of a vehicle on a highway shall fail to yield to the right of way to the operator of road maintenance and construction equipment that has its warning lights on.”

The requirement for drivers to reduce their speed while passing highway workers and highway equipment is also addressed in the Act in Section 203(1). As defined in the Act, the definition of highway workers also includes municipal workers. In short, The Traffic Safety Act already includes provisions that address the items raised in the resolution passed at the recent SARM annual convention. No further action is required or planned.

View updated response dated August 17, 2017 from the Ministry of Highways