[Harvey Specter]

RCMP reminded the public Friday that a new traffic law will force drivers to slow down to below the speed limit when passing an emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the road.


Beginning June 1, drivers must slow to 70 km/h on highways where the speed limit is 80 km/h or higher, and to 40 km/h where the limit is below 80 km/h, when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle that has its lights flashing, according to an RCMP statement.


Also, when passing an emergency vehicle on a road with two or more lanes, drivers must use the far left lane.


The law is meant to protect emergency personnel who leave themselves susceptible to being hit by passing vehicles.


The law was created during the tenure of now former Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General John van Dongen who resigned from the cabinet position after his driver's licence was lifted for two excessive speeding tickets.


“Too often, these workers face near-misses, injury or even death – directly due to the carelessness of passing drivers," van Dongen said in the statement.


In addition to fire, ambulance, and police vehicles, the law includes protection for other emergency service employees like vehicle inspectors, conservation officers, and utility workers.


A fine of three penalty points against one's licence and a $148 ticket will be issued to those caught not obeying the new law.


Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Kevin Falcon said the law follows other jurisdictions that have done the same thing to protect emergency workers.

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

[?NR]

Should've been law long ago. Countless times I've seen people zoom excessively fast past the emergency crew and their vehicles while they attended to their duties.

I've also seen people tailgating emergency vehicles right after after pulling over for them, thinking "oh cool emergency crew yay lets follow and let them clear the way for me!"..

sigh.

[Marco911]

Great. More fucking gridlock. So cops pull over someone for speeding, driving in the HOV lane etc, etc and everyone on the fucking hwy has to suffer as a result? Do you know how impractical it will be for all traffic to switch to the far left lane on a busy hwy?

[SkinnyPupp]

Doesn't it make sense to do this anyway? I know I always slow down when I pass a pulled over police car or ambulance. I don't want to run over some poor cop or paramedic.

[HonestTea]

Seems pretty normal LOL...

[Rich Sandor]

sounds fine to me as long as there's also a fine for cops who stop in places where they don't absolutely HAVE to.

[Inaii]

Everyone always slows down to rubber neck anyhow. This is just going to give them more of an excuse, and probably cause more accidents.

[impactX]

Codified common-sense.

[!SG]

yeah, isnt it common sense to do that anyways? what was the previous law in place? speed up when passing an emergency vehicle???

[hk20000]

Thanks for the heads up. Does it count when the cop car is on the roadside trying to catch speeders and I just go by at posted speed limits? I mean....you ARE trying to be stealth here right?

[ilvtofu]

Emergency personnel have side mirrors and eyes too...

[03aspec]

yeah, isnt it common sense to do that anyways? what was the previous law in place? speed up when passing an emergency vehicle???

ya, its something I've been doing ever since I got my license. but you know what they say about common sense, that it isn't that common.

[NSX]

I never see people speeding by Emergency vehicles. They slow down,get nosy, and watch like a snail. They have a better chance of rear ending someone than hitting a emergency vehicle.

[!SG]

the biggest problem is when traffic happens.

you ever try to pull over on broadway during rush hour when you see emergency vehicles coming east AND west? its impossible, and then there are those that freak out at the sound and sight of an ambulance, cop, firetruck and all they do is freeze right in the middle of the road.

fix the congestion to give some room so you CAN even pull over.

[fliptuner]

Fine, protect their ass while working on the side of the road but what about tow truck drivers with their lights on? The law should apply to them too.

And I've said it a million times: Ticket the bloody left lane blockers!!!

[jlenko]

Doesn't it make sense to do this anyway? I know I always slow down when I pass a pulled over police car or ambulance. I don't want to run over some poor cop or paramedic.

Makes perfect sense... most considerate drivers already do it. But it seems careful and considerate drivers are becoming fewer and further between on BC roads nowadays...

I've always done this.

[Mancini]

It's already the law in other provinces and it's simple common sense here.

This is a good thing!

[seakrait]

unfortunately, it's quite uncommon sense. otherwise they wouldn't have to make a new law over it.

[penner2k]

While I do this anyways... how are they gonna ticket this?
Just say "this law was not in place when I got my license and I didnt know about it".

I'm pretty sure at first they will just be giving out warnings.

[seakrait]

^^^ ignorance of law is not a defence in court.

but yes, the police might or might not give out warnings the first month or so. but again, it's up the discretion of the officer whether or not to give out a warning or to issue you a ticket.

[TheSmokeShow]

I never see people speeding by Emergency vehicles. They slow down,get nosy, and watch like a snail. They have a better chance of rear ending someone than hitting a emergency vehicle.

you'd be surprised how many people carelessly whip by, but yes then you get rubber necks that have to see what is going on... if i'm stuck on traffic control i'm either waving people to slow the hell down that are still above the posted limit or to get them moving more than 20kms/hr so there isn't more to deal with.

[ELITE_TRAYUNZE]

I don't see how they'd enforce this anyway.
If I go at my normal speed past a cop who has pulled some1 over on the side of the road, is he really gonna drop everything he's doing and quickly jump in his car and come pull me over? I highly doubt it...

[nsmb]

they do this in alberta

[SkinnyPupp]

unfortunately, it's quite uncommon sense. otherwise they wouldn't have to make a new law over it.
True, looking at some of the responses here, there are still a lot of dumbfuck drivers out there who need to be forced into having some common sense.

[zulutango]

My understanding is that in Alberta & other provinces, the fine is based on the speed you are doing when you didn't slow down. HUGE fines in the multi-hundreds of dollars...here it's just like a basic speeding ticket.

As one who has had to jump out of the way of speeding vehicles many times, I welcome this new law. Just wished the fine was higher. 2 of the guys I worked with were hit by idiot drivers ( they both lived) and several others had to bail at the last moment. Truckers used to see how close they could get so that the vacuum would suck your hat off.

[q0192837465]

hmmm, this is new to me. I only slow down to speed limit when I see an emergency vehicle parked on the side.

[Rich Sandor]

I think the rule should not be limited to police/emergency personell, but rather ANYONE standing or working by the side of a road.

If you're about to drive by someone within 2 meters, you should slow the hell down. Doesn't matter WHO it is.

Secondly, I think police/medic/fire/construction workers need to take responsibility as well and NOT work by the road unless they can park their vehicle or erect a blockade/stantion to protect themselves to some extent.

Not to mention, spending as little time as neccessary while there. Pulling someone over for a burnt out tail light, and then spending 15 minutes doing a background check on the side of the highway while traffic backs up and rubber necks, is not acceptable (IMHO)

[seakrait]

I think the rule should not be limited to police/emergency personell, but rather ANYONE standing or working by the side of a road.

If you're about to drive by someone within 2 meters, you should slow the hell down. Doesn't matter WHO it is.

Secondly, I think police/medic/fire/construction workers need to take responsibility as well and NOT work by the road unless they can park their vehicle or erect a blockade/stantion to protect themselves to some extent.

Not to mention, spending as little time as neccessary while there. Pulling someone over for a burnt out tail light, and then spending 15 minutes doing a background check on the side of the highway while traffic backs up and rubber necks, is not acceptable (IMHO)
totally agree. i don't understand why some drivers can't put themselves in other people's shoes. if YOU were working on the side of the road, wouldn't you want other people to slow down? again, it's just uncommon sense.

As for emergency personnel working at the side of the road (say the police), they do park their vehicle slightly offset behind the vehicle they've stopped (behind the vehicle but closer to traffic) to provide a safer place for them to stand and talk to the driver in question. They should, anyway.

However, sometimes it's the burnt out taillights that get the crooks nabbed. A quick chat with the driver can pique the officer's curiosity about the driver. A check on the computer can come up with outstanding warrants, etc. It's a necessary part of police work unfortunately, rubberneckers and all. Greater good and all that, right? :)

[Rich Sandor]

As for emergency personnel working at the side of the road (say the police), they do park their vehicle slightly offset behind the vehicle they've stopped (behind the vehicle but closer to traffic) to provide a safer place for them to stand and talk to the driver in question. They should, anyway.

I think it's a fairly recent innovation (recent 10 years) that cops do that, and to this day there are still cops that don't always do it when they could or should. (just saw a vpd member not doing it last week)


However, sometimes it's the burnt out taillights that get the crooks nabbed. A quick chat with the driver can pique the officer's curiosity about the driver. A check on the computer can come up with outstanding warrants, etc. It's a necessary part of police work unfortunately, rubberneckers and all. Greater good and all that, right? :)

Actually, you're right, it is for the greater good and something that is worthwhile - but my gripe is specifically about where cops choose to conduct the process. It doesn't have to be done in such a place where traffic gets crippled or blocked.

[3seriesBeeM]

this is just common sense. but i still see so many people freeze when they hear sirens and stop in the middle of the road and people zooming by emergency vehicles pulled over. I hope the cops have some courtesy and make an effort to pull people down a side street where possible

[Alatar]

Common sense. But what of all the speed traps that pull you over from the far left lane. ;)

[!Yaminashi]

sounds fine to me as long as there's also a fine for cops who stop in places where they don't absolutely HAVE to.

Agreed, one time I saw 2 cop cars just sitting SIDE BY SIDE and chatting on a small residential street, forcing traffic to bottleneck around them.

Traffic going BOTH WAYS, how ridiculous is that?

[BNR32_Coupe]

My understanding is that in Alberta & other provinces, the fine is based on the speed you are doing when you didn't slow down. HUGE fines in the multi-hundreds of dollars...here it's just like a basic speeding ticket.

As one who has had to jump out of the way of speeding vehicles many times, I welcome this new law. Just wished the fine was higher. 2 of the guys I worked with were hit by idiot drivers ( they both lived) and several others had to bail at the last moment. Truckers used to see how close they could get so that the vacuum would suck your hat off.

Regina police department bought 4 mitsubishi pajero's as highway cruisers just because they're RHD, safer for exiting the vehicle on a busy highway. just sayin'...

[BNR32_Coupe]

Doesn't it make sense to do this anyway? I know I always slow down when I pass a pulled over police car or ambulance. I don't want to run over some poor cop or paramedic.

I slow down just to take a look at what happened :haha:

although slowing down to take a look is safer for the emergency crews, it causes a lot of traffic especially during rush hour. oh well, better to not kill our own hero's than to get home on time

[Mananetwork]

Why make this a law, people slow down regardless to see what's going on anyway. I FUCKING HATE THAT!!

[BNR32_Coupe]

Why make this a law, people slow down regardless to see what's going on anyway. I FUCKING HATE THAT!!

Not me though. I speed up to make up for people that slow down

[taylor192]

It's already the law in other provinces and it's simple common sense here.

This is a good thing!
The law in Ontario is you have to switch lanes to give an entire lane if you can, ie pulled over on right hand shoulder, must change into left lane.

The cops would exploit this by doing "checks" where they would randomly pull over quickly and turn on the lights for NO REASON, if you didn't quickly change lanes you got a ticket. I witnessed it on the highway, not fair at all, grabbed the car behind me that didn't get over in time.

[taylor192]

the biggest problem is when traffic happens.

you ever try to pull over on broadway during rush hour when you see emergency vehicles coming east AND west? its impossible, and then there are those that freak out at the sound and sight of an ambulance, cop, firetruck and all they do is freeze right in the middle of the road.

fix the congestion to give some room so you CAN even pull over.
Congestion will only be fixed when Vancouver decides to copy Boston's big dig.

They've tried for years to get a highway through Vancouver, and now good luck with the sky-high property values, no-one wants that in their backyard.

Hell the broadway merchants are against a sky-train line, I understand the problems with cambie, yet more transit is needed and digging a tunnel is stupid expensive.

[Mananetwork]

Not me though. I speed up to make up for people that slow down

That makes no sense.

Here's an example, guy in front slows down, you slow down.
You finally get the chance to speed up, but the guy two cars down from you slows down to look at the accident/problem thorough. You have no control over the situation.

[shenmecar]

it makes sense to impose this law. plus 40 is not that slowwwwwww. im for it!

[Hondasport19]

you'd be surprised how many people carelessly whip by, but yes then you get rubber necks that have to see what is going on... if i'm stuck on traffic control i'm either waving people to slow the hell down that are still above the posted limit or to get them moving more than 20kms/hr so there isn't more to deal with.

you can never stop the rubbernecks from looking and seeing whats going on. I find when i'm ever stuck on traffic control its usually getting people to get moving and stop looking before they cause another accident.

[124Y]

It makes total sense. However, I often see idiotic Hongers and Mainlanders with an "N" sign in Richmond driving in their 335i and C350 not giving a shit about emergency vehicles and personnels. They just fuckin' speed past cop cars, thinking theres an invisible wall between lanes so the cops won't step into their lane.

[BNR32_Coupe]

it makes sense to impose this law. plus 40 is not that slowwwwwww. im for it!

follow rules?
:confused:

[$_$]

sounds fine to me as long as there's also a fine for cops who stop in places where they don't absolutely HAVE to.


yeh , why dont cops get fined for parking stupidly when they pull over people in the middle of the road ? they love to park sideways so i have to swerve out of my way just not to hit them.

[124Y]

yeh , why dont cops get fined for parking stupidly when they pull over people in the middle of the road ? they love to park sideways so i have to swerve out of my way just not to hit them.

+1

I've been in a situation where the traffic on a 2-lane street is unnecessarily forced to merge into 1 when a cop pulls over a car and parks in the middle of the right lane, which clearly have enough room for a parallel-parked car and ongoing traffic to pass through.