We bring you a disturbing story this week about a North Vancouver traffic flagger who was struck by a vehicle during the nightly lane closures of the Lions Gate Bridge.
West Vancouver police have issued the driver three violation tickets, including one for fleeing the scene.
We look forward to someone being held accountable through a fair court process.
But unfortunately, this is indicative of a larger problem.
Flaggers, like other people who work on the frontlines, tend to be the lightning rod for people’s frustrations. Frustrations that, if they belong anywhere, belong with the decision makers at much higher levels.
Just a few days after the case on the Lions Gate Bridge, Sooke RCMP announced they were looking for a suspect who sped through a construction zone, swearing at a flagger and hitting him.
The Lions Gate Bridge, famously, is a bottleneck and the construction work that’s happening on it now is surely making matters worse.
But the work is necessary and the workers deserve to be safe in their jobs and not face abuse from someone in the comfort of his or her vehicle.
Next time you’re tempted to let a flagger be the outlet for your irritation, instead, give them a tip of your hat, a smile or a friendly wave using all five of your fingers.
They’re out there in the elements and breathing exhaust fumes for hours on end in the name of safety. No matter what your rush is, there’s nothing that justifies the bad behaviour people seem to feel entitled to display around them.
They deserve better.
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