The Regina Police Service Traffic Safety Unit (TSU) reminds those operating construction equipment, including skid steers, that there are laws that need to be followed when travelling on public roadways.
Over the past year, at least five collisions involving construction equipment on public roadways have been reported to police. Educating operators and owners about the rules is one part of our efforts to ensure safe roads.
Skid steers and other construction equipment are classified by SGI as “Special Mobile Machines” (SMM). SMM operators are required to adhere to all rules of the Traffic Safety Act, Vehicle Equipment Regulations (VER) and City of Regina Bylaw 9900.
Companies and equipment that do not meet the following requirements are required to trailer equipment when moving it on a public roadway.
Traffic Safety Act:
- All rules of the road, under the Traffic Safety Act, must be followed.
- The TSA defines a highway as any roadway used for the passage of vehicles by the general public. Parking lots, public or private, are not included.
Vehicle Equipment Regulations:
- All SMM’s must be equipped in accordance with Sec 255.911 of the VER. This includes:
- Headlamps: Equipment must have two headlamps that emit a white light from a distance of 500m on clear night. It must be mounted on either side of center as far apart as possible and at the same height.
- Signal Lamps: Equipment must have two operable signal lamps that emit an amber or red light visible to the rear.
- Stop Lamps: Equipment must have one stop lamp that emits a red light visible to the rear. The stop lamp must be able to be activated by the brake system
- Tail Lights: Equipment must be equipped with at least one tail lamp that emits a red light to the rear.
- Reflectors: Equipment must have reflectors or reflective tape. Two red reflectors should be located to the rear as far apart as practical, as far apart from centre as possible. Reflectors are also required on the front and must be amber in colour. It is recommended to have reflectors on the bucket.
- Mudflaps and fenders: Equipment must be equipped with fenders and mudflaps for the full width of the tire to reduce the rearward projection of gravel, mud, snow or water.
- Beacons: Snow removal equipment is required to have at least one amber beacon or a combination of amber and blue beacons. The blue beacon can only be used while actively clearing snow. It cannot be used while being driven or transported from site to site.
- Equipment must have a “slow-moving” placard on any equipment hat does not maintain a speed of 40 km/hr.
City of Regina Bylaw 9900
- Construction and Farm equipment cannot be operated on roadways between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. or from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes prior to sunrise unless preceded and followed by a pilot vehicle. (Sec. 76)
- No tracked equipment/vehicles on public property (Sec. 75)
- City-owned and contracted equipment are exempt from Sections 75 and 76 of this bylaw.
In Regina, the majority of SMM’s are skid steers. Operators are reminded that buckets should be carried low when not in use. Machine stability, visibility for the operator and the ability to brake or stop quickly are among the reasons for this.
Whether it’s moving snow or dirt, the rules apply throughout the year. Officers with the Traffic Safety Unit will be stopping those not in compliance with the regulations if they see them on public roadways. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure safe roadways for all who use them.
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