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How do you react when you hear sirens behind you?
Ontario’s Move Over Law has been around for over a decade, but drivers are still unsure of how to react. Since the law came into effect in 2003, there’s been over 11,000 charges related to drivers not following the proper protocol.
In fact, the number of charges laid has seen a steady increase since 2010. Last year, the OPP laid 1,502 charges related to the law, while there were 1,067 charges in 2010.
While driving on the highway, if you see an emergency vehicle parked on the side of the road with its emergency lights on, drivers are required to slow down. If there are multiple lanes on the highway, the driver is required to safely shift over and leave lane between their vehicle and the emergency vehicle. If it’s not possible to do so safely, then the driver at least needs to slow down below the speed limit. Failure to do so could result in fines between $400 to $2,000, as well as a three demerit point penalty.
“With the higher volumes of traffic on long weekends, police and other emergency personnel respond to far more calls for service at the roadside, making it a particularly important time to move over a lane when able to do so safely,” said Chief Superintendent Chuck Cox, Provincial Commander of the OPP Highway Safety Division, in a press release.
The law was put into place to protect emergency personnel while they work roadside. Since 1989, there have been five OPP officers who have been killed and others injured while operating roadside during an accident scene.
Also, provincial politicians have proposed a similar law to protect tow truck drivers as well. It would require drivers to follow the same protocol if they see a tow truck stopped at the side of the road.
Two years ago, there was a tow truck driver who was helping another motorist fix a flat tire when he was killed by a passing car, according to CBC News.
“Every time I send one of my drivers out, I’m terrified. If I send them out on a highway … or even just a busy street in town, I’m terrified,” the boss of the deceased two driver told CBC News. “It’s not what my driver does, it’s what other people do.”
If you’ve been involved in an accident or you think you may have caused an accident is a scary experience for anyone, but it’s important to remain at the scene. If you’re looking to be a Good Samaritan and help out at a motor vehicle accident, there are some steps you can take to ensure that you’re safe as well.
Motor vehicle accidents happen and accident benefits are available to anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident regardless of who caused the accident. The personal injury and accident lawyers at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers have been dealing with all accident related issues throughout Ontario for over 45 years. We know how to get you the compensation that you deserve and get your life back in order after being in a car accident. Call us at 416-920-4242, set up a free consultation, and come speak with us.
Greg Neinstein
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