Every day, Maritime Electric and contractor crews work on the electrical system from the side of our roadways to deliver safe and reliable electricity to our customers. While they’re working to power our lives, you can do your part to protect theirs. Recently we have seen an increase in distracted driving related incidents within or close to our worksites. Distracted driving is the cause of over a quarter of all serious injury collisions in Canada1. You can take action to reduce distractions by:
- Never texting or browsing on your phone while driving.
- Avoiding changing settings on your car’s console, or on your navigation system, unless you safely pull over.
- Keeping your eyes on the road at all times. Looking away for even a second can be dangerous.
- Maintaining complete control of your vehicle at all times.
- Avoiding eating and drinking while driving.
- Encouraging your friends and family to also reduce distractions while driving.
When approaching a work site, pay attention to any advanced warning signs. Slow down as you're nearing the site. Always yield to the direction of the traffic controller and equipment (pylons, signage, etc.), they are there to keep you and the workers safe. When the traffic controller indicates it is safe to proceed, enter the worksite using a slow and controlled speed.
You can help keep everyone safe, including crews, yourself and other motorists. Let’s respect the zone, so we all get home!
1. Transport Canada, 2021. https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/stay-safe-when-driving/distracted-driving.
