PETERBOROUGH-During the month of June Peterborough Police officers will focus on enforcing the, “Slow Down, Move Over” Law.
“This law was brought into effect after the deaths of officers and our fellow emergency service providers responding to vehicles they had pulled over at the roadside. One of the most dangerous parts of our job is traffic stops,” explains Sgt. Chartier. “Drivers need to be educated and comply with this law. For us, along with our emergency services partners and tow truck drivers, it could mean the difference between going home at the end of the shift versus serious injury or even death.”
The law states that when an ambulance, police, fire emergency vehicle or tow truck is stopped on the side of the road with its emergency lights flashing, drivers in the lane next to it slow down and, where possible and if it’s safe to do so, move over one lane and pass the emergency vehicle with caution.
The minimum fine for a first offence is $490 up to $2,000 and three demerit points upon conviction along with a possible driver’s licence suspension for up to two years.
The Peterborough Police Service’s Traffic Management Unit launched a new initiative in 2017 where specific offences are being targeted each month. These targeted offences are in addition to current and ongoing traffic initiatives.
“All the initiatives are designed to educate the public while providing enforcement with the goal to make all roadways safer for everyone who uses them” says Peterborough Police Service Traffic Management Sergeant Jeff Chartier.
 photo credit: Chris Yarzab Traffic stop via photopin (license)
