‘Ugly offshoot of road rage’: Oxford County joins call for better protections for municipal workers

As we head into construction season, Oxford County is urging measures be taken to protect municipal workers. CTV’s Bryan Bicknell explains.

They improve our roads, dig ditches to install necessary infrastructure and plow our streets in winter. But those who don orange vests and hardhats, are all too often the subject of abuse.

“I think this is just an ugly offshoot of road-rage to another level,” commented Oxford County Coun. Phil Schaefer at Wednesday’s meeting of county council.

“We’ve had a recent occasion where one of our road workers was flagged down just so they can be berated about the condition of the road,” he added.

Oxford County has become the latest local government to support a call from the Association of Ontario Road Supervisors (AORS) for provincial legislation to better protect municipal workers and contractors.

Oxford County Deputy Warden Bernia Martin says this past winter has, in some instances, brought out the worst in people as they interact with municipal workers.

“Some people are really kind and appropriate when they reach out and express their concern. But some people take it to that toxic level immediately. And it’s just not appropriate. And we have a responsibility as council to stand up for our workers,” she said.

Among the proposals, AORS is asking for ‘slow down, move over’ laws to protect roadside workers. It wants minimum distance requirements for traveling behind snowplows, and when a significant weather event is declared, it wants winter maintenance operators to receive the same protections as frontline responders.

“So right now, if you stop a snowplow or a sidewalk plow from running, it’s a $70 charge. By allowing them to become emergency personnel, that takes it up to a $10,000 charge. So, there’s more severity when you interfere with those operations or abuse those people. We’re also asking for greater protections under the Ontario Health and Safety Act,” said Kelly Elliott, interim executive director for AORS.

Oxford County’s resolution will be forwarded to the Ontario premier and the solicitor general, as well as the ministers of emergency preparedness, municipal affairs, and transportation, among others.