As we head toward another summer long weekend, OPP say they’ll be out enforcing the Move Over law.
With heavy traffic volumes expected throughout the province, highways and roads will see a greater presence of roadside emergency vehicles, making it a particularly important time for drivers to act in accordance with this law, OPP say.
The 2003 Move Over law means drivers must slow down and move over when emergency vehicles are on the side of the road.
Numbers released by OPP Wednesday show that 2015 was one of the worst years in terms of OPP charges laid against drivers who broke the Move Over law.
The OPP laid a total of 2,031 charges last year. The only year that saw a higher number was in 2008 when more than 2,800 charges were laid.
This weekend will also be used by OPP to educate the public about the law.
Drivers are being reminded that in 2015, the law was amended to include slowing down and, on multi-lane highways, moving over for tow trucks parked on the roadside with their amber lights flashing.
The law carries a fine range of $400 to $2,000 and three demerit points.
In OPP-investigated incidents last year, six OPP vehicles, another police vehicle, three ambulances and a tow truck were struck while stopped on the shoulder of a highway or road. The drivers who struck these vehicles were all charged under the Move Over law.
Meanwhile, Woodstock police say they'll be targeting impaired driving and distracted driving this long weekend.
RIDE programs will be set up throughout the city.
Police say having a plan ahead of time will ensure nobody is drinking and driving. They want to remind people of the following:
- Make sure you have a plan to get home safely
- If you are under the age of 22 you cannot have any alcohol in your body while operating a vehicle
- Don’t drive high
- Driving while impaired isn’t just dangerous, its expensive
- Remember, fatigue and stress will also affect your ability to drive safely
