Prince George, B.C. – Traffic Services with the Prince George RCMP  will be focusing on getting drivers to slow down and move over when they see an emergency vehicle  on the side of the road.

There has been a law in effect for 5 years now that aims to  protect emergency services personnel.

Under the law,  drivers must reduce their  speed when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle when it is on or beside a roadway and has its lights flashing.

In the case where there are two lanes going in the same direction, drivers must move into the other  lane to pass, if it is safe to do so and a police officer has not directed them to do otherwise. This gives emergency workers as much space as possible to complete their duties.

When a driver is approaching or passing a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights on a roadway (that is not a divided highway)  the BC Motor Vehicle Act Regulations requires drivers traveling in both directions to:

• Drive at no more than 70 km/h where speed is 80 km/h or more

  or

• Drive at no more than 40 km/h where speed limit is less than 80 km/h

Since 2001, more than 40 emergency workers have been killed or seriously injured while helping people on BC roads.

Working on the edge of any road is a dangerous place to be and unfortunately most emergency services personnel have experienced a ‘near miss’ while on our roads” says Corporal Corey Eggan of the Prince George RCMP’s Municipal Traffic Section.