NEW LAW
Approaching a stopped emergency vehicle
Enforcing the law and providing emergency assistance often require emergency vehicles to park in a lane or on the shoulder of a road or highway.
To increase safety, Ontario's Highway Traffic Act now requires motorists approaching a stopped police, fire or ambulance vehicle with its lights* flashing to slow down and pass with caution. This applies to all police, fire and ambulance vehicles that are stopped in the same direction of travel, either in a lane or on the shoulder of a road or highway.
* Fire vehicles and ambulances use flashing red lights. Police vehicles may use flashing red lights or a combination of flashing blue and red lights.
First offence - $400 to $2,000, plus 3 demerit points upon conviction.
Subsequent offence (within 5 years) - $1,000 to $4,000, possible jail time up to 6 months and possible suspension of driver's licence for up to 2 years.
Road Safety. It starts with you