THUNDER BAY – Despite being law for 15 years, an increasing number of Ontario drivers are failing to move over and slow down for stopped emergency vehicles.
Provincial police laid 2,443 move over related charges in 2016, continuing a five-year trend where the number of offences laid has steadily increased each year.
OPP Sgt. Ken Mantey, the Northwest region’s traffic manager, said it should be common sense.
“You see an emergency vehicle or tow truck on the side of the road, or in reality any vehicle or anybody on the side of the road, we should be slowing down,” Mantey said.
“On a multi-lane highway if it’s safe, move over. On a two-lane highway, slow down and again if it’s safe give that person a little bit of space. Whether it’s a police officer dealing with a motorist, tow truck removing a disabled vehicle or just a broken down vehicle, give people the room. Give them that safety margin.”
Under the move over section of the Highway Traffic Act, motorists are required to change lanes if safe to provide room and slow down to below the speed limit when emergency vehicles or service equipment, such as tow trucks, are on the side of the road with their lights engaged.
The number of charges laid in 2011 was 1,181, less than half of the 2016 figure.
It’s not a new legislation that should be catching drivers off guard, Mantey said.
“Motorists should be aware of it,” Mantey said on Friday. “I believe a lot of motorists in their driver training are made aware of it. It’s surprising. It’s one of those things where we’re not taking into consideration everyone’s safety.
Mantey said reasons for drivers failing to move over or slow down range from inattention to disregard for the situation.
A first offence nets drivers a fine in the range of $400 to $2,000 and three demerit points, with subsequent offences within five years resulting in a fine of between $1,000 and $4,000 with possible licence suspension of up to two years and jail time of up to six months.
With that deterrence proving to be not be enough, officers are continually monitoring their surroundings when conducting traffic stops, especially on highways, Mantey said.
“You always have to have your head on a swivel looking all around. You’re listening for vehicle sounds. You hear the vehicle slowing down or possibly, hopefully not, speeding up,” Mantey said.
“You’re really keeping that 360 (degrees) awareness looking forward, backward and to the side trying to keep everything in your vision and aware of everything.”
