Flagger struck by truck

Sam

- November 12, 2012 at 04:37:23

Wow, this story line sounds alot like when i was run over.......... A lot of ignorant people who think they are better than or know a flaggers job better than the flagger! All i can say is walk a mile in there shoes, and have a little respect for the ones that are injured! Could be one of your family members or friends! Not all flaggers text on the job or smoke or turn there back to traffic, so you cannot judge! Again........walk a mile before you stick your foot in Your mouth! I hope the flagger is ok, its a tough job!

Submit a comment

kim

- October 4, 2012 at 16:33:27

i am a pei flagger and i really do not like some of these comments made. everyday we put our lives in danger to protect the traveling public. but like everyone else we are not perfect, the only difference is we mess up someone can or may get hurt. you think it is an easy job? then come try it ! you try to stop an 18 wheeler going down the road at full speed. people need to be educated at what should take place at a construction site. there are rules to follow just like any other job !

Submit a comment

EDUCATE THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC

- October 4, 2012 at 14:53:00

As a flagger for many years I have came across many of the travelling public who choose to ignore flaggers and what their purpose on the jobsite may be.. You have no idea what is occurring on the jobsite we stop and slow you down for your safety as well as the safety of the crew we are working with...If there were stiffer fines and maybe police patrolling the jobsites when people ignore stop signs or speed signs maybe things would change..Don't critisize someones performance on a job unless you yourself have done the job...Travelling public awareness is a big issue ask the girl who turned her rear defrost and air conditioner on at the same time before she hit me on University Ave. flagging school wouldn't have helped there..Driver error was the reason . Approach construction and worksites with caution and obey traffic control..Don't lump all signallers in the same category . I am good at my job and so are alot of others we respect you try and do the same....

Submit a comment

newhavengirl

- October 4, 2012 at 12:11:01

Well if the flagger was texting like the one i passed the other day on the transcanada highway they probably didnt notice the vehicle that hit them. I would think if your responsilbilty is to make sure everyone on the road is safe, then texting with one hand and holding the sign with the other probably isnt very advisable

Submit a comment

Great Fable

- October 4, 2012 at 09:50:18

No,no, Mr. What. It's not a slow story day, this story is a metaphor - a great fable. You see, "flaggers" (IE: voters who say when to stop and go) are symbolic of common Islanders, and the "utility truck doing the work" is the government (IE: the floggers). However, when things go wrong, floggers mow down flaggers. Especially when neither pay attention. You know, HST, Bootleg Tourism Contracts, Delusional Plan B, PNP Scam, Secret Hotel Contracts, MLA Perks, and . . . okay, okay, floggers hurt flaggers a lot, but we all get the point. It's the flaggers that get hurt, rarely the floggers.

Submit a comment

spud

- October 4, 2012 at 06:57:46

Let me guess !!! He or she was either texing or lighting a smoke?

Submit a comment

Not Surprised

- October 4, 2012 at 04:48:37

They have the picture in this article right. That is usually how they are standing when you are approaching them , back to the traffic . It's amazing there aren't more accidents involving flaggers.

Submit a comment

• 

  kim

  - October 6, 2012 at 17:20:41

  dear not surprised. Actually that flagger in the picture is facing the traffic- she is on the left side of the road facing the traffic coming towards her.. Spud - not all flaggers smoke either so that is discriminating to say the least. Thank you to all of you who wrote about how well and hard our work is.

Ann

- October 3, 2012 at 23:38:20

Yesterday, I passed through the area being flagged on Summerside's MacEwen rd. I went through 5 times, 3 of which had me pass the same flagger. He had his back to the traffic he was stopping on all three of those occasions. How was he suppose to watch that oncoming vehicles were going to stop??? He is lucky no one hit him because he would never have seen it coming. Another flagger that shoud go back to school.

Submit a comment

Charlottetown Resident

- October 3, 2012 at 21:50:49

I'm always driving through construction zones and encounter Flaggers all the time. I think they are worthy of some merit for doing their jobs. We may deem it to be an easy task from the warmth, comfort and/or coolness inside our vehicles, but quite on the contrary, I assure you. These people (Flaggers) are exposed to the elements, no matter how extreme, to ensure us a safe passage around the dangers that do exist in these zones. On top of all that, there's the attitudes from negative drivers....another story.

Submit a comment

title is misleading

- October 3, 2012 at 20:08:20

Talk about paying attention.

Submit a comment

THE FLAGGER CREWS NEED MORE SCHOOL

- October 3, 2012 at 19:27:49

A recent incident at the new Sobey's mess of an entrance left me shaking my head .The flagger ( I hoped he could read my lips as I suggested he should go back to flagger school) decided as I was half way past him, to flip his sign to STOP. An amateur & dangerous move on the part of a flagger who's been at the business of traffic control a long time, obviously to long.I've seen this guy on many crews over the years & he ALWAYS looks unsure of what he's doing...to much time eyeing the prize at the end of 14 weeks.HE almost caused an accident but try explaining that to the cops.

Submit a comment

• 

  Chad

  - October 3, 2012 at 23:04:44

  To everyone who thinks flagging is easy why don't you try it for yourself and see what it is like. It is not the easiest job in the world. You have people getting mad at you for a slight inconvenience plus some people cursing and swearing at you are just parts of the average work day. Flaggers also run the risk of having vechiles hitting them on a daily basis due to the fact that all drivers are not paying proper attention to the road; more drivers are too busy texting or talking on cell phones then watching the road and actually driving their vechile. So I say again if you think flagging is such an easy job you try standing out on the side of the road in the hot sun or in the rain getting soaked or try doing it in the winter when it is minus 20 and the wind is blowing at 50 to 60 kph while the falling snow feels like needles hitting your face. Be courteous to the flaggers working on the road; they are just doing their job and what the foreman or forewoman of the job site has directed them to do.

• 

  Mr. English Teacher

  - October 4, 2012 at 08:10:05

  Looks like you need more grammar school.

• 

  Just a thought

  - October 4, 2012 at 09:22:39

  Not one of those islanders that's always in a hurry are you? Regardless what his sign will say, you should always proceed with caution. If the sign turns last second it's because he's received an order.. don't worry if it is last second, you are in no danger unless you are speeding towards the zone

• 

  kim

  - October 5, 2012 at 14:20:08

  Actually not all of the flaggers are looking for their 14 weeks. that sounds like a very closed mind. I know when i flag i am worried about the welfare of all motorists, pedestrians, as well as construction workers, lastly myself. we get on the road everyday hoping that there are no accidents on our work site. just because one flagger made a mistake which does happen we are not perfect doesn't mean we should all be judged the same way. We are taught to slowly turn our sign for the car in which we need to stop. so hence when the sign was turned half way after your car had gone through this was probably ment to stop the vehicle behind you.

What

- October 3, 2012 at 19:14:21

Slow day in the news room.

Submit a comment

• 

  A Fellow Flagger

  - October 8, 2012 at 22:31:22

  As a flagger myself for alot of years i have seen the travelling public neglect our signs. I worked on the Brackley Point Road and i felt like i was working at the indy 500. I was always facing traffic and shaking my sign to give notice to the travelling public but it never slowed one person down. The speed limit was 60kms on the spot we were working and we had a motorcycle going through at atleast 160km if not more he was just a flash going by and people with no patients passing in a construction site. Alot of the travelling public does not pay attention to us or our signs. When people come into construction sites or utility sites or any type of construction they should respect the signs and the people on site doing their jobs. We aren't there to cause any body grief we are there to protect our crew, travelling public, pedestrians and everyone else who may walk or pedal bike through these sites. Us flaggers know what our crew is doing where as the travelling public doesn't know except there is construction going on. As far as being educated i am educated and have a college degree but in my field there isn't enough money or full time jobs. So flagging is supporting my two kids and myself....i am a single mom of 2 small children. We deserve respect as well as anyone else. So when you come across a construction site read or pay attention to the signs and all will run smooth. All flaggers don't smoke or use cell phones. And if caught using a cell phone while working is illegal plus it can cost you your job. Also don't forget we are human and we all make mistakes no one in this world is Perfect.