THUNDER BAY – Ontario Provincial Police are reminding the public to slow down and move over when approaching emergency responders and tow truck operators at the roadside.
The OPP will conduct targeted enforcement of move over rules under the Highway Traffic Act over the long weekend, part of its annual Slow Down, Move Over campaign.
Sections 159 (2) and (3) of the Act require drivers to slow down and proceed with caution when approaching an emergency vehicle or tow truck stopped or parked on the side of the road and, if safe to do so, move over one lane.
In a release, the OPP pointed to ongoing problems with failure to obey that law, saying more than 900 charges had been laid for those offences in 2021.
Of those, 17 were laid in the OPP’s Northwest region, and another five have been laid so far this year, said spokesperson Allison Lawrence.
The law carries a $490 to $2,000 fine plus three demerit points upon conviction, the OPP said.
Since 1989, five OPP officers have been struck and killed by approaching vehicles while carrying out their duties at the side of the road, said the force.
