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Traffic tip of the week
This week’s tip: Fail to slow down or move over near stopped emergency vehicles
By Cpl. RP Hrehirchuk
When an official vehicle is stopped
47.02 (1) Subject to subsection (2), a person driving a motor vehicle on a highway in either direction must drive the motor vehicle at no more than the following rate of speed when approaching or passing an official vehicle:
(a) 70 km/h, if signs on the highway limit the rate of speed to 80 km/h or more;
(b) 40 km/h, if signs on the highway limit the rate of speed to less than 80 km/h;
(c) the rate of speed indicated on the signs, if signs on the highway limit the rate of speed to less than 40 km/h.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a driver who approaches or passes an official vehicle from the opposite direction on a highway that contains a laned roadway or is divided by a median.
(3) In addition to the requirements of subsection (1), a driver travelling in a lane adjacent to the stopped official vehicle or in the same lane in which the official vehicle is stopped must, if it is safe to do so, and unless otherwise directed by a peace officer, move his or her motor vehicle into another lane of the laned roadway, if any.
Minimum penalty is $173 and three points on your driving record.
Definition
47.01 (1) In this Division, “official vehicle” means a vehicle that
(a) is authorized under section 4.28 to display flashes of red, blue, white or amber light, and
(b) is displaying flashes of red, blue, white or amber light
(i) in accordance with any limits or conditions set out in section 4.28 or specified by the director under section 4.28 (1) (b),
(ii) while the vehicle is stopped on or on the side of a highway, and
(iii) while the vehicle’s components are being operated, or a member of the vehicle’s crew is working, on or on the side of the highway.
(2) Despite subsection (1), a school bus is not an official vehicle for the purposes of this Division.
Under these regulations official vehicles include police, fire, ambulance, tow trucks or any other vehicle displaying flashing lights.
Cranbrook RCMP encourages all drivers to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles on the highway for their safety as well as yours. The emergency personnel you are moving over for could be helping someone you know!
– Cpl. RP Hrehirchuk is NCO Municipal Traffic Cranbrook RCMP
