MONTREAL – Move over, Quebec.
As of Sunday, Aug. 5, drivers in the province must slow down and move over when approaching police cars, ambulances, fire trucks, tow trucks and Transport Quebec vehicles stopped on highways.
Most Canadian provinces and U.S. states already have so-called move-over laws to protect emergency workers.
Under the new Quebec law, drivers must carry out “move over manoeuvres” when tow trucks, emergency vehicles and surveillance vehicles are stopped with activated yellow arrow light signals or rotating or flashing lights.
The general rule is that drivers must create a buffer area between their vehicles and the stopped vehicles.
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If they can do so safely, they must slow down, then put as much distance as possible between their vehicle and the stopped vehicle.
If necessary, a driver must stop to avoid endangering human life or safety.
The penalty for scofflaws in Quebec: a fine of $200 to $300, plus three demerit points.
In Ontario, penalties are stiffer. For a first offence, the fine is $400 to $2,000, plus three demerit points.
Standing in front of a row of emergency vehicles on Monday, Transport Minister Pierre Moreau said the province had been studying the idea but sped up its implementation after the death of Bromont police officer Vincent Roy in December.
Roy was hit and killed by a passing truck while giving a ticket on a highway.
“We must protect those who protect us,” Moreau said.
Quebec has launched a publicity campaign to warn drivers about the new law. It includes a video showing what drivers should do in various situations. The video is available in English at MoveOverLawquebec.gouv.qc.ca and in French at CorridorDeSecurite.gouv.qc.ca.
The Sûreté du Québec says 214 provincial police cars were rammed by passing cars on highways over the past three years, with injuries to police officers in several cases. An association of Quebec tow-truck operators says since 2001, six tow-truck drivers have been killed and 18 have been injured after being hit by the side of highways.
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