A Calgary councillor wants city officials to step up education and enforcement for motorists who stop under overpasses to shelter from hail and heavy rainstorms. Coun. Landon Johnston introduced a motion to explore opportunities to use existing city electronic signs to inform drivers about incoming hail storms and warn of the dangers of stopping on active roadways. “A hailstorm comes, people panic. They usually start by parking on the shoulder under a bridge and then everybody kind of falls behind them, and then it makes its way into the live traffic,” Johnston said. He said he hopes the city will have a strategy in place for next spring and summer. “It’s just a matter of time before something serious happens,” he said. “Part of it’s going to be education, part of it’s going to be enforcement because people have to learn that you can’t do that.” The Ward 14 councillor’s motion, if approved by council, would also direct city officials to work with the province and Calgary police to review current traffic regulations and bylaws to determine whether changes are needed to strengthen rules. Calgary Police have issued warnings about the dangers of stopping underneath bridges during storms before. Following a 2024 summer storm, the service’s social media accounts warned that stopping on major roadways during storms is considered “hazardous.” Police say penalties can include a $162 ticket and three demerit points. A city committee endorsed the idea on Monday and council will debate the motion later in October.
