Work Zone Safety Alert: Drivers Ignoring Road Signs in Prince George

Prince George RCMP, in partnership with the City of Prince George, is issuing a clear reminder to drivers that road signs in construction areas are mandatory, not optional. The warning follows complaints from traffic control personnel working along Southridge Avenue, where some motorists have been disregarding posted detours and one-way restrictions.

According to police, the issue is occurring at an active work zone where a detour is in place via Dekelh Ti. Despite the clearly marked closure, some drivers are choosing to travel against one-way traffic to shorten their route. This behaviour is endangering construction crews, flaggers, and a daycare facility located within the closed section of road.

Official Details from Prince George RCMP

In response to reports from flaggers, Prince George RCMP is reinforcing that traffic control devices and work zone signs must be obeyed at all times. The conduct being reported includes:

• Motorists ignoring detour signage along Dekelh Ti and driving through the closed portion of Southridge Avenue.
• Drivers travelling against designated one-way traffic patterns within the work zone.
• Behaviour that places road workers, flaggers, and children and staff at a nearby daycare at significant risk.

City officials emphasize that this is a peak period for maintenance and infrastructure work across utilities, roads, and parks. Drivers are being urged to slow down, follow all posted instructions, and comply with directions from on-site staff so that every worker and road user can go home safely.

Police are also reminding drivers that financial penalties and licence consequences are higher in designated construction areas. In work zones, the following fines and penalty points may apply:

• 21 to 40 km/h over the posted limit in a work zone: $253 fine and 3 penalty points.
• Excessive speeding (more than 40 km/h over the limit) in a work zone: Minimum $368 up to $483, 3 penalty points, and an automatic 7-day vehicle impound.
• Failing to obey a flagger: $196 fine and 3 penalty points.

These penalties exist to protect vulnerable roadside workers, nearby pedestrians, and other motorists whenever crews are present or signage is in place.

CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective

From the perspective of CrimeCanada.ca, the situation in Prince George, British Columbia underscores how everyday driving decisions directly affect community safety. Construction zones bring workers, equipment, and sometimes children—such as those at the daycare on Southridge Avenue—into very close proximity with moving vehicles. Even a single driver ignoring a sign or a flagger can cause a serious collision with lasting consequences.

While our platform is best known for crime and safety data—such as our community-level analyses for locations like small municipalities and towns across Canada—traffic behaviour is a critical part of overall public safety. To reduce risk in work zones, drivers in British Columbia should plan for delays, respect all detours, maintain reduced speeds, and stay alert for changing conditions. Choosing patience over convenience helps protect road workers, nearby children, and fellow motorists, and supports safer communities across the province.

Official Source & Community Safety

This safety alert is based on an official release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). CrimeCanada.ca aggregates and analyzes this data to keep the british-columbia community informed, aware, and safe. We are an independent safety data aggregator and not the original creators of the underlying incident report.

Read the full official release here: RCMP Official Statement.