The West Region OPP say they will be conducting a safety campaign aimed at protecting first responders.
Police will be conducting an enforcement campaign from February 13 to February 16, focusing on drivers who do not slow down and move over for emergency vehicles with flashing lights at the side of the road. The "Move Over" law states that when on a roadway with two or more lanes, drivers must move over for the parked emergency vehicle, if it is safe to do so. If the roadway only has one lane in each direction, the driver is required to slow down and proceed with caution as they pass the parked emergency vehicle.
The OPP shared that since 1989, five OPP officers have been killed in the line of duty when they or their vehicles were hit by approaching vehicles.
Police are reminding drivers that failure to comply with the "Move Over" law carries fines ranging from $490 to $2,000, and three demerit points upon a conviction. Subsequent offences carry a $1,000 to $4,000 fine, possible jail time of up to six months and suspension of your driver's licence for up to two years.
The "Move Over" law was instituted in Ontario in 2003 to protect the lives of police, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel and tow truck operators who frequently stop along roadsides to do their work.