Hamilton’s emergency services and the City of Hamilton teamed up from April to June to remind motorists to slow down and move over after a number of emergency personnel encountered near misses while working on Hamilton roadways.

During the three month campaign, Hamilton Police issued 25 charges under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act- Fail to slow down/move over to another lane for emergency vehicle or tow truck.

As the campaign concluded an OPP Officer was struck as he conducted a traffic stop on Highway 400 near Finch Avenue in Toronto. Although the campaign is over Hamilton Police continue to remind motorists to slow down and move over when passing emergency vehicles at the side of the road.

In Ontario, ‘Move Over’ legislation was drafted in 2003. The law requires drivers to slow down and proceed with caution when passing an emergency vehicle or tow truck parked on the side of the highway with its lights activated. If the highway has more than one lane, the law requires the driver to move over and leave one lane between their vehicle and the parked emergency vehicle or tow truck if it can be done safely. Drivers can face fines from $490 to $2,000 by failing to comply.