LEEDS-GRENVILLE – Provincial police are hoping holiday travellers watch out for emergency vehicles, slow down and move over.
With the Civic Day long weekend underway, O.P.P. officers will be concentrating on enforcing the Move Over law.
Motorists must slow down on a single-lane highway or move over to the far lane if an emergency vehicle is on the side of the road.
If you don’t, you can get a ticket from $400 to $2,000 and three demerit points.
“But the cost is far greater to police officers, other responders and drivers of approaching vehicles who are involved in roadside collisions every year,” the O.P.P. said.
A half dozen O.P.P. cruisers, another police vehicle, three ambulances and a tow truck were struck while stopped on the shoulder of a highway or road last year.
Since 1989, five O.P.P. officers have been killed after being hit by approaching vehicles.while on the roadside.
Police officers gave out 2,031 Move Over law tickets in 2015 – second only to 2008 when 2,800 tickets were issued.
On the water, the O.P.P. will be partnering with the Canadian Safe Boating Council for Operation Dry Water – a targeted enforcement against drinking and boating.