Ontario Residents

[Uwe W.]

Is anyone aware of an Ontario law that states when approaching an emergency vehicle stopped on the shoulder of the road with their lights flashing, you must enter the left lane?

I just read of someone who received a $490 ticket and three demerit points for staying in the right lane, although they had slowed down.

I always try to move to a lane further away from ANY stopped vehicle, but it's not always possible. No one I've talked to has ever heard of this fine. Don?

[Paddy]

It's a new law that got very little publicity. I read about it in the Star Wheels section a while back but no-where else. The cops seem to be publicising it by ambushing unsuspecting motorists with these huge penalties.
I agree with the reasoning behind it wholeheartedely but the way it's being implemented smacks of entrapment.
Another public relations coup for the Toronto Police Service!

[sportbikecalgary]

I don't want to hijack your Ontario info thread, but we've had this in Alberta for a couple years now. Either 60kph in the lane beside the emergency vehicles OR move one lane to the left. If there is no left lane to move into, it's 60 kph.

Alberta’s Traffic Safety Amendment Act. (Cut and pasted from here (http://www.ama.ab.ca/cps/rde/xchg/ama/web/membership_5315.htm))
Proclaimed law on October 31, 2005, the legislation requires that drivers now reduce their speed to 60 km/h — slower where indicated — when passing emergency vehicles or tow trucks that are stopped with their lights flashing. As well, drivers must observe the posted speed limits in construction zones — and when workers are present, fines for speeding in these areas have doubled. New penalties for speeding in such areas now range from $114 to $702 plus two to six demerit points (depending on the number of kilometres over the limit being driven).

The gov is making a ton of money with the construction zone thing... it doesn't matter what lane you're in... On a major freeway (Deerfoot trail) I was caught last year via photo radar 3 lanes away from the construction pylons. It cost me $175 ...but no points as it was photo radar.

[grog]

I think that Paddy is correct. It was introduced after a few OPP officers were killed along the 401.

[Ivor biggin]

If Drivers do not have enough common sense to slow and if possible change lanes when approaching emergency vehicles then they deserve all that they get. I don`t know if legislation is the answer to bad driving but it`s got to help.
IB.

[John]

I think that Paddy is correct. It was introduced after a few OPP officers were killed along the 401.


Don't have the numbers at my fingertips but collisions with emergency vehicles resulting in the death of a peace officer is the leading cause of peace officer deaths in North America...

I'm with Ivor on this one, naturally. And I cannot imagine very many people actually being charged with such an offense as the said peace officer is already busy with something of importance. Talk to any ambulance attendant, firefighter, etc. & the horror stories will astound...

John.

[Swervin]

I have actually had my police cruise door nearly ripped off. It was bouncing off of the front fender, looking back at the incident I laugh but at the time I was not impressed.
I have had some close calls over the years, usually your to busy to stop the person, a few choice words have come out of my mouth.
I know one OPP officer who got so pissed off recently he threw a flare at a car for doing a stupid thing on the 401.
People are in to much of a hurry.

[Rocking Couple]

partial quote


And I cannot imagine very many people actually being charged with such an offense as the said peace officer is already busy with something of importance.

John.

It would seem that people are getting charged with this (as opposed to receiving a warning).

Roadside collisions of emerg vehicles and their operators are a serious issue that needs to be addressed and have the word spread, but in the case that "Ted" witnessed below, we can only hope the officer issued a warning with a promise of him to spread the word to family and friends and internet forum buddies. Word like that spreads fast, and doesn't carry with it or encourage an increasing animosity towards traffic law enforcement.
__________________________________________________



Below is a copy/paste of this and another case, by a "Ted" on Hwy 69.

This includes the HTA charge at the bottom.

<<Ontario drivers - attention

I just had an experience which I hope you will not share.

I was driving on the 417 West at Panmure at broad daylight at 2 p.m.,when I came upon two police cruisers who had pulled over a third vehicle. I slowed down to be cautious, and was surprised when the second cruiser pulled out and pulled me over.

Approaching on the passenger side, the officer asked if I knew why I had been pulled over. I honestly expressed that I had no idea.

He informed me that Ontario law now states that when approaching any emergency vehicle, on the roadside, with lights flashing, you must enter the left lane. He then proceeded to ticket me, taking three demerits and issuing a fine of , wait for it, . . . $490! (Yes, I'm choking as I type that.)

I realize I did not change lanes, but I do believe I was cautious. My message is, be careful. He said that they are cracking down hard on this because of three injured officers in the last ten days.
I did not realize this was the law. Neither did any of my recently-licensed children. Or, evidently, not the 47 drivers (I counted) who broke the same law as I sat waiting to receive my ticket!
__________________________________________________ _________________
Hi,
For my part, I saw this happen today (Feb 24th) on Highway 69 South of Sudbury, on the passing lane on the Magnetewan flats.
A cruiser was parked on the shoulder of the southbound lane with his lights flashing. He had no vehicle stopped, he was just parked there.
I was northbound and reduced my speed, the extra lane was on the southbound side so, there were two lanes between me and the cruiser.
A southbound motorist passed the cruiser without moving to the outer lane and the Officer immediately pulled out and gave chase to that driver.
I saw him stopping him in my mirror before going over the next hill. The car did not appear to be speeding, in fact he seemed to slow, but failed to change lanes and was (presumably) stopped for that reason!
Ted


Read the actual Law below:

Below is the the excerpt from the Ontario Highway Traffic Act. relating to this offence. It is under section 159.1 (1), (2), (3),(4),(5).
Approaching stopped emergency vehicle
159.1 (1) Upon approaching an emergency vehicle with its lamp producing intermittent flashes of red light or red and blue light that is stopped on a highway, the driver of a vehicle travelling on the same side of the highway shall slow down and proceed with caution, having due regard for traffic on and the conditions of the highway and the weather, to ensure that the driver does not collide with the emergency vehicle or endanger any person outside of the emergency vehicle. 2002, c. 21, s. 1; 2007, c. 13, s. 20.
Same
(2) Upon approaching an emergency vehicle with its lamp producing intermittent flashes of red light that is stopped on a highway with two or more lanes of traffic on the same side of the highway as the side on which the emergency vehicle is stopped, the driver of a vehicle travelling in the same lane that the emergency vehicle is stopped in or in a lane that is adjacent to the emergency vehicle, in addition to slowing down and proceeding with caution as required by subsection (1), shall move into another lane if the movement can be made in safety. 2002, c. 21, s. 1.
Same
(3) Nothing in subsection (1) or (2) prevents a driver from stopping his or her vehicle and not passing the stopped emergency vehicle if stopping can be done in safety and is not otherwise prohibited by law. 2002, c. 21, s. 1.
Offence
(4) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable,
(a) for a first offence, to a fine of not less than $400 and not more than $2,000; and
(b) for each subsequent offence, to a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $4,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both. 2002, c. 21, s. 1.
Time limit for subsequent offence
(5) An offence referred to in subsection (4) committed more than five years after a previous conviction for an offence referred to in subsection (4) is not a subsequent offence for the purpose of clause (4) (b). 2002, c. 21, s. 1
__________________________________________________ __________>>

[Uwe W.]

I have seen enough video taken from in-car police cameras to conclude two things:

1. Stopping a vehicle at the side of the road, even if it's equipped with flashing lights, is an extremely dangerous thing to do. In today's news there was footage of a DUI driver that drove straight into the back of a parked police cruiser that had it's lights on. Luckily the officer wasn't in the car and no one was hurt in the incident, but it's a reminder of how inept some motorists can be; many of them have skills that are, at best, marginal. With all the daily carnage occurring on our roads, it's obvious that there are people behind the wheel of multi-ton vehicles that have less processing power than a digital wristwatch.

2. THIS MIGHT SAVE YOUR LIFE> Too many motorcyclists focus only on the road ahead and pay little attention to what's happening behind them. ALWAYS KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR SIX. When you pass an emergency vehicle on the side of the road, or anything else that might serve as a distraction to drivers (an accident, a car with a flat tire, the Hawaiian Tropics Bikini Team walking on the sidewalk), you should consider the rubber-necker principal. Many bikes are hit from behind because someone was staring at something on the side of the road and not paying attention to where they were going.

This situation is heightened if you have to stop (street light/stop sign) right after where the distraction is located. While you're slowing down to a stop the idiot behind you, the one too busy looking at all the flashing lights, doesn't even take his foot off the gas pedal.

It's worth repeating that anytime you come to a stop you should be monitoring what the traffic behind you is doing. Whenever I come to a red light, I leave my bike in gear and make sure the car behind me is slowing to a stop before I even think about putting it in neutral.

I hope none of you feel I'm questioning your riding ability. This point is being made as part of a genuine concern for everyone's safety. We all need reminders, especially in the spring, to do the little things that can mean the difference between having a great ride home, or an unpleasant one to the hospital. Trusting or assuming that motorists will keep their vehicles under control at all times simply isn't an option when you ride a motorcycle.

[mrspock]

Ya , we have this on the books here in the Peoples Republic of Ontario now for a while . As others have stated , the idea of this is not a bad on as we have all seen far too many videos of police cars / officers hurt as a result of brain dead car drivers not paying attention . I doubt this law will really generate zillions of dollors and as such , I am not fully convinced that fee generation was the purpose behind the law . Officers need to do thier job in an as safe as possible environment so to create a law that at least is designed add that safety is at least to me , not a bad idea .


spock

[Malks]

While the law might be fairly new, it did make the news when it was introduced. I remember hearing several announcements when the law was passed. As most have noted, it is just common sense to give anyone at the side of the road more space, and if you have no lane to move into, slow down and at least move over as much as possible.

Unfortunately, most drivers in this province are completely clueless when it comes to common sense, but then as motorcyclists, we are fully aware of this fact.

[ScottB12]

I realize there is nothing common about common sense, but this legislation smacks of it. I definitely heard about this as it did indeed receive media attention when introduced.

I cringe when I see anyone flying up the right hand lane, passing emergency vehicles, tow trucks, or just a pulled over vehicle without making any effort to move to the left. Even when there is ample opportunity to do so, people do not make the lane change.

I have seen guys lying on the ground changing a tire at the side of the road/highway and even then people lack the common sense and common decency to move over a lane. I have no problem with this legislation at all and feel it should be enforced. The same courtesy should (and does) apply to construction crews.

[RickO]

I realize there is nothing common about common sense...

A friend of mine rode a bike 12 hours a day as a motorcycle cop.

He was trained to dismount on the right side when pulled over to the side of the road because so many motorcycle cops are hit as they get off their bike.

It sounds like a no-brainer for drivers to move over or slow down. All it takes is one episode of Amazing Videos with footage of emergency vehicles being slammed while pulled over -- off the pavement and in broad daylight -- to realize how unbelievable it is that any of us survive a simple ride down the highway.

[TimP]

I don't know Swervin' or any of his co-workers, but I sincerely hope this new law is effective in making a dangerous job safer. The last thing I would want is for an officer to be injured or killed while trying to help keep us all safe.

However, whenever a new law is introduced two things typically (ideally?) happen: the new regulation is widely publicized, and those who break it in its early days are let off with a warning. This grace period serves to ease the public from ignorance to awareness, helps to spread the word, and gets us all to a place where ignorance really is no excuse.

Ignorance is (or should be) an excuse when you haven't been properly notified of your new obligations under the new law. Requiring instant adherence backed up with hefty fines smacks of retribution, not education.

If I were reading this thread from the vantage point of someone in charge of police public relations, and I wanted to boost the perception of Swervin' et al's dedication to our safety and their right to personal safety in return, I'd be cringing right now.