Amended Highway Traffic Amendment Act now in effect

A law passed last spring to protect highway workers and people on Manitoba roads came into force Jan. 1.

The Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Traffic Safety Measures) sets out rules for drivers when passing cyclists and winter maintenance vehicles. Tow-truck drivers and roadside assistance operators can now place cones and signs to alert drivers and divert traffic from work zones.

Drivers approaching or passing snowplows with blue warning lights activated must stay back 30 metres on roads with an 80 kilometres-per-hour speed limit or lower, and 100 metres on roads with a speed limit above 80 km/h. Drivers must not pass if the view ahead is obstructed or passing risks interfering with the vehicle or work.

The law also requires a safe passing distance for cyclists. Drivers must leave at least one metre of space when passing — a requirement already in place in other provinces, including British Columbia and Ontario.

The Manitoba government developed the amendments after consultations with industry representatives, law enforcement, municipalities and advocacy groups, the province said in a news release Friday.