Drivers are encouraged to keep their eyes peeled for highway line painting equipment in the coming weeks.

Currently, work continues in the Altona area on highway 243 heading west, though crews plan to turn north up through Morden and Winkler before heading on Highway 3 to Carman.

Ray Berard, Chief Executive Officer for RCB Painting, urges motorists to be careful when passing his workers.

He notes the large vehicles travel at 16 km/h. "If an automobile approaches at 90 or 100 km/h you are approaching really quickly."

The laws protecting line painting trucks fall under the same guidelines as emergency vehicles; if the speed limit is 80 kilometres per hour or above, you are required to slow down to 60 when passing. And if the speed limit is below 80 kilometres per hour, you are required to slow down to 40. He says most of their work happens during the day and they try to avoid rush hour traffic.

With the warm weather, the paint dries quickly, though he notes anyone following closely could also risk getting paint on their vehicle.

The Provincial government requires that highway lines are painted annually. Berard adds the edge lines are becoming even more important as vehicle manufacturers incorporate more automated sensors which use the same lines to stay on course. "It's become very important."

After finishing work in the Pembina Valley, Berard says they will move on to a project in Northern Manitoba.