Paving company pleads for safer driving in construction zones

A Saskatchewan paving company is asking motorists to put safety first when they come upon construction zones. The message, from HJR Asphalt, comes following the deaths of three teens who were stopped at a highway construction area and struck from behind.

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"It was a heart breaker on Sunday when we heard the news of the tragedy," Reg Willick, from HJR Asphalt, said Tuesday. "It was a tough weekend for us."

The travelling public has to be the ones to help protect us.- Reg Willick, HJR Asphalt

Willick's company suffered the death of a flag person, Ashley Richards, in a crash at a construction zone in 2012 and Sunday's incident in which a flag person (not from HJR Asphalt) was also seriously injured was a grim reminder.

"It brought back the nightmare of August, three years ago," Willick said.

Willick said despite rigorous training and a full complement of safety measures at work sites the workers must rely on motorists paying heed.

"Not all traffic obeys the signs," he said. "We haven't had any serious close calls but there is traffic that just does not obey the signs."

The company puts its workers through a number of training courses and Willick said they are monitored on the job to ensure they are prepared to handle different situations.

"The training never stops," he said. "They're being watched and monitored for weeks."

Despite all the precautions, however, Willick said drivers are the key to safety.

"The travelling public has to be the ones to help protect us," he said.

Willick said the 2012 death of Richards spurred him to become more vocal and more involved in lobbying for improved enforcement of construction zone rules, such as photo radar.

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"That was probably our salvation and my salvation, just getting involved," he said. "I'm responsible for the safety of our employees and anytime someone comes to me with a safety concern and we have to buy more message boards, I'm never going to say no."

HJR Asphalt also expressed support and understanding to the families involved in the most recent crash.

"Our company feels for the families affected by the loss, and the workers of the company," the statement said. "We are all praying for them and for the flag person."

"This is a brutal reminder that even when you have all safety practices and procedures in place on the highway, your life is in the hands of the traveling public," the statement added. "We can only hope that through the darkness of these events, positive change will occur."

Provincial government officials said a meeting with a trucking association took place Tuesday morning, in light of what happened on Sunday. However the details of what was discussed were not provided.

Sunday's crash remains under investigation by RCMP.