RoadSmart Report | September, 2004

Keep emergency workers safe on the highway

SGI reminds motorists to slow to 60 km/h when passing emergency vehicles stopped on the roadside that have their lights flashing. This includes city police and RCMP vehicles, fire trucks and ambulances.

"While it seems that most drivers know to slow down for highway workers, there are still many drivers who zip past emergency vehicles without reducing speed," says Garry Davis, SGI’s Supervisor of Driver Safety Services. "This is extremely dangerous for emergency personnel who are working on or near the road."

Davis also points out that the emergency workers aren’t the only ones put in danger by drivers who don’t slow down.

"If one vehicle correctly reduces their speed to 60 km/h when passing an emergency vehicle, but the driver following behind them doesn’t, there is a risk of a serious rear-end collision," says Davis.

The fine for this offence starts at $140, plus $2 for every kilometer over the 60 km/h speed limit. If a driver is over 90 km/h, the fine increases to $4 for every kilometer over the 60 km/h speed limit. This is the same as the fine applied to passing highway workers.

Contact:

Garry Davis
Supervisor, Driver Development and Safety Services
SGI
Moose Jaw
(306) 691-4565