Blue and amber lights on snow plows
Issue:
The Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure has installed blue and amber lights on all Ministry snow
removal equipment.
Key Facts:
•
The Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure has installed blue and amber lights on all provincial
snow removal equipment.
•
Provincial legislation now allows flashing blue lights – in combination with the current amber lights
– to distinguish snow removal equipment (plows, graders, snowblowers, trucks) from other
equipment that uses amber lights, such as tow trucks or over-sized loads
•
The lights are activated when the equipment is conducting winter maintenance activities - plowing,
sanding, salting or doing surveillance work on the highways. This involves monitoring the highways
for snow drifts or icy sections when operators may be required to put down the blade to remove a
drift or spread some sand or salt at a moment’s notice.
•
Motorists on the highways are required to slow to 60 km/h when passing a plow (from either
direction) with its blue and amber lights flashing. The same law applied prior to the introduction of
the blue lights legislation.
•
Snow plow operators are instructed to pull to the side of the road to allow vehicles to pass
approximately every 10 km, or when it is safe to do so.
•
Saskatchewan joins Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland and the Yukon in adopting the blue and
amber light combination.
Questions & Answers:
Q:
Why is the Ministry adopting flashing blue lights for use on snow removal equipment?
Blue and amber flashing lights have been installed on all Ministry of Highways and
Infrastructure snow removal equipment to help motorists identify when the equipment is
actively working on our provincial highways. This colour combination is unique to snow removal
equipment, so it will help people distinguish the snowplows from other flashing lights on the
highways. The Ministry is also adopting the national guidelines for distinctive lighting on snow
removal equipment as recommended in the Transportation Association of Canada’s (TAC) Snow
Removal Equipment Visibility Guide.
Q:
Will the new blue and amber light combination reduce accidents on Saskatchewan highways?
There are no guarantees the new blue and amber light combination will reduce accidents on
our highways. However, increasing the visibility of the snow removal equipment will help
motorists be more aware of the presence of the equipment on the highways. In turn, that will
provide them with more time to make safe driving decisions.
Q:
What is the Gallenger Amendment and how is it tied to the blue lights?
Gallenger Amendment to Subsection 203(1) of the Traffic Safety Act: “No person shall drive a
vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than 60 kilometers per hour when passing: (c) any
highway equipment on a highway that has its ministry issued warning lights in operation.” The
ability for snow removal equipment to be easily recognized by the travelling public is
considered a key factor in public compliance to the Act and allows the Act to be enforceable.
The amber and blue lights will make the snow removal equipment distinguishable.
Q:
Why is the blue light only to be used in winter?
The Ministry may use the blue light for winter maintenance activities but is prohibited from
using the blue light for any other purpose. The regulations were only approved for snow
removal equipment while conducting winter maintenance activities.
Q:
Who else can use the blue light?
The option to use the blue-amber light combination applies to all snow removal equipment
while actively engaged in snow removal services for the Government of Saskatchewan, a
municipality, a city or a regional park (also applies to all snow removal equipment used by
provincial, municipal and private contractors).