The Golden-Field RCMP reminds drivers to reduce their speed and, when it is safe to do so, move over to provide space for emergency and maintenance vehicles displaying flashing red, blue, or amber lights.
Drivers must decrease their speed when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle or a maintenance vehicle that is stopped on or adjacent to a roadway with its emergency lights activated.
Where a roadway has two or more lanes in the same direction, drivers must move into the inside lane to pass if it is safe to do so and a police officer has not directed them otherwise. This gives emergency workers as much space as possible to complete their duties.
On undivided highways, this applies to motorists approaching the parked vehicle from either direction. If the vehicle is stopped on the driver’s side of the road, and there is another lane going in the same direction, drivers must move into that lane if it is safe to do so.
“Legally, drivers who are travelling in 80 km/hr or faster speed zone must slow down to 70 km/hr when driving past a stopped emergency or maintenance vehicle on the side of the road with flashing red, blue or amber lights;” said Cst Jas Dhugga, Golden-Field RCMP media relations officer; “If the speed zone is less than 80 km/hr, drivers must slow down to 40 km/hr.”
Under the Motor Vehicle Act, drivers who fail to slow down and/or move over near stopped emergency or maintenance vehicles could be issued a ticket for $173, including 3 penalty points on their driving record.
