watch
for
Emergency
Vehicles
There are two situations where motorists will encounter an emergency vehicle on our roads and highways: when a police, fire or ambulance vehicle is approaching from either direction or when any of these vehicles, with their lights flashing, is stopped in the same direction on the road or the shoulder ahead. Fire and ambulance vehicles will use flashing red lights and police vehicles may use either flashing red lights alone or a combination of flashing red and blue lights.
As of June 4, 2007, police department vehicles
may use flashing blue lights in combination with
flashing red lights. Some police services will
continue using flashing red lights only.
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Motorists should respond to police vehicles with flashing blue and red lights in the same way they respond to flashing red lights.
Reacting to an approaching emergency vehicle
As required by law, a motorist who sees or hears an emergency vehicle
must clear the way. When a police, fire or ambulance vehicle is approaching
from either direction, with lights flashing or siren on, motorists are required
to pull to the right, and if possible, stop. This is especially important
during peak traffic times. Also, motorists must yield to an emergency vehicle
at intersections.
It is also illegal to follow within 150 metres a fire
vehicle or ambulance responding to a call.
Failing to pull over and stop for an approaching emergency vehicle can
result in the following:
Fine - $90 ($125
in a Community Safety Zone), plus 3 demerit points on your driving record upon
conviction.
Click here to view Seconds Can Save a
Life for more information on reacting to an approaching emergency
vehicle.
Approaching a stopped emergency
vehicle
Enforcing the law and providing emergency assistance often require
emergency vehicles to park in a lane or on the shoulder of a road or
highway.
To increase safety, Ontario's Highway Traffic Act requires motorists when approaching a police, fire or ambulance vehicle stopped with its red lights* flashing in the same direction of travel, either in aane or on the shoulder of the road to slow down and pass with caution. If the road has two or more lanes, the motorist must move over into another lane, if it can be done safely.
* Fire vehicles and ambulances use flashing red lights. Police vehicles may use flashing red lights or a combination of flashing blue and red lights.
First offence
- $400 to $2,000, plus 3 demerit points upon conviction.
Subsequent
offence (within 5 years) - $1,000 to $4,000, possible jail time up to 6
months and possible suspension of driver's licence for up to 2 years.
Road
Safety. It starts with you.
Last Modified:
March 28, 2008
