What do you do when an emergency vehicle approaches?

As a motorist, there are many situations that you need to know how to respond to, such as how to emergency stop a car or how to report a car accident. Another situation is when an emergency vehicle, such as a fire truck, approaches. Emergency vehicles always have the right of way, but as a driver, it can be stressful to figure out how to react when you see one. Below, we provide tips on what to do when an emergency vehicle approaches.

Types of emergency vehicles

Emergency vehicles come in many forms. When you’re driving, be on the lookout for the following types of vehicles:

• Police cars
• Fire trucks
• Ambulances
• Tow trucks
• Public utility vehicles

The move over law in Ontario

If you do not slow down, stop, and move over when an emergency vehicle is approaching, you can be charged. Depending on the province you live in, the charge may look a little bit different. For example, in Ontario, Section 159 (2,3) of the Highway Traffic Act is where you will find the details of what is known as the move over law. The move over law in Ontario states that drivers must slow down when an emergency vehicle or tow truck is approaching if the vehicle has flashing lights. Thus, it is crucial to remain aware while driving. If you are distracted while driving, you might not notice an emergency vehicle approaching, which could result in a conviction.

If you fail to obey the move over law, you could face harsh penalties, including a ticket you can learn more about careless driving tickets and red light camera tickets by contacting BrokerLink. For a first offence, you could receive a fine ranging from $400 to $2,000, as well as three demerit points. For a second or subsequent offence within five years of the first offence, you could incur a fine of $1,000 up to $4,000, as well as three demerit points, jail time of up to six months, and the suspension of your driver’s licence for up to two years. It is worth noting that you can also be convicted of failure to move over if you follow within 150 metres of an emergency vehicle responding to an incident.

Move over laws in other Canadian provinces

Each Canadian province and territory has its own rules and regulations surrounding emergency vehicles. We outline these below:

Newfoundland and Labrador

When you notice an emergency vehicle approaching, drivers travelling in the same direction as the emergency vehicle must slow down to a maximum of 30 kilometres per hour, change lanes if it is safe to do so, and stop when possible.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia drivers must slow down to a speed of 60 kilometres an hour or obey the speed limit if it is below 60 kilometres per hour when they notice an emergency vehicle approaching. This is the case whether the emergency vehicle is in motion or pulled over and has its lights flashing.

Prince Edward Island

If an emergency vehicle or tow truck is approaching, drivers are required to slow down to half the speed of the posted speed limit and move over a lane if appropriate.

New Brunswick

In New Brunswick, drivers must slow down to half the speed limit if any sort of emergency vehicle is approaching with their lights flashing.

Quebec

Quebec does not specify a speed that drivers must travel at when an emergency vehicle is nearby. However, the province does suggest that all drivers slow down to a safe speed and change lanes when possible.

Manitoba

Motorists in Manitoba must slow down to a speed of 40 kilometres per hour if they are driving in an area with a posted speed limit of 79 kilometres or less. Meanwhile, if they are travelling on a road with a posted speed limit of 80 kilometres an hour or more, then they must slow down to 60 kilometres an hour when an emergency vehicle is approaching with its lights or sirens on.

Saskatchewan

Drivers in Saskatchewan are required to slow down to 60 kilometres per hour for all emergency service workers and trucks.

Alberta

Similar to Saskatchewan, drivers in Alberta must slow down to 60 kilometres per hour and change lanes if it’s safe to do so. If the posted speed limit is lower than 60 kilometres per hour then they must slow down more than this.

British Columbia

The move over law in British Columbia stipulates that, when in the presence of an emergency vehicle with flashing lights, drivers must slow down to 70 kilometres an hour when in an area with a posted speed limit of 80 kilometres an hour or over or slow down to 40 kilometres per hour if the road has a posted speed limit of 79 kilometres per hour or less.

Yukon

Though there is no official move over law in the Yukon, the province’s driver’s handbook confirms that emergency vehicles have the right of way in the province.

Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories does not stipulate that drivers must slow down to a specific speed when an emergency vehicle is approaching. However, they do recommend that drivers slow down, change lanes if it’s safe to do so, and leave space.

Nunavut

Like the Northwest Territories, there is no speed that drivers are required to lower their speeds to when in the presence of emergency vehicles. However, the provincial government does advise motorists to give way to emergency vehicles and pull over to the right side of the road when it is safe. They also advise drivers to be prepared to stop.

Steps to follow when an emergency vehicle is approaching

Now that you know the rules and regulations surrounding emergency vehicles in the different provinces and territories in Canada, let’s outline the steps to follow if you notice an emergency vehicle approaching. The strategy may vary between provinces, as some have different maximum speed limits than others. In addition, the steps you take may also depend on where the vehicle is approaching from, i.e. whether it is approaching from behind or whether you are passing a stopped emergency vehicle. Continue reading for a breakdown of what to do in both situations:

If an emergency vehicle approaches from behind

If you notice an emergency vehicle approaching from behind, the first thing to do is to slow down. Identify the location of the emergency vehicle using your side and rear-view mirrors. If you see flashing lights or hear a siren, pull over to the opposite side of the road that the emergency vehicle is trying to pass on, usually this will be the right side. Turn your signal on when changing lanes to pull over. After the emergency vehicle has passed, keep your ears and eyes open in case any other emergency vehicles are following behind. Once it is safe to do so, turn your indicator on, merge back into the lane you were in, and slowly proceed. Whatever you do, never follow the emergency vehicle closely. Following a fire truck or police car closer than 150 metres when it is responding to an emergency is illegal in most provinces and can result in a penalty. Lastly, please note that if you’re in the turning lane and notice an emergency vehicle approaching, do not turn. Instead, slow down, continue straight, and pull over to the right-hand side as soon as possible.

If you are passing a stopped emergency vehicle

If you notice a stopped emergency vehicle that is responding to a situation in the distance, which will be indicated by flashing lights or sirens, make sure that you slow down. Slow down to the speed stipulated in your province, if applicable. Vehicles in the lane closest to the emergency vehicle should slow down even more. Only return to the posted speed limit when you are well clear of the emergency vehicle.

Generally speaking, no matter what the situation, if you notice an emergency vehicle with flashing lights in the vicinity, always slow down and proceed with caution. If necessary, change lanes and come to a complete stop. When it is appropriate, start moving again and turn your indicator on to merge back into the original lane you were in. Drive off slowly and wait a minute or so before increasing your speed to the posted speed limit.

Contact BrokerLink

If you want more tips on what to do if you find yourself on the road with an emergency response vehicle, contact BrokerLink today. We can advise you on what the rules and regulations stipulate in your province and even explain how a failure to move over conviction can impact your car insurance rates. Speaking of car insurance, a BrokerLink insurance advisor can help you find the best possible auto insurance policy for your needs. We can provide you with a free car insurance quote and explain how the various types of auto insurance can cover you, including:

• Accident benefits coverage
• Liability car insurance
• Accident forgiveness coverage
• Comprehensive car coverage
• Collision car insurance
• Uninsured automobile insurance

Get in touch today to begin your car insurance journey.

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