Manitoba is reminding motorists to slow down and move over when they are passing emergency vehicles stopped on provincial roadways.

A new set of signs will start appearing across the province in an effort to improve safety for emergency crews having to work along roads.

“We have heard from first responders, including the RCMP, rural ambulance and fire services, as well as the tow-truck industry and motor carrier enforcement officers, that motorists need to slow down and safely move over to give response crews a safe space to do their jobs, which are often life-saving jobs,” said Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler .  “This is a matter of safety, common sense and courtesy, yet we hear of near misses and recklessness far too often.”   

Manitoba has had laws in place for the past eight years that required drivers to reduce their speed and move over to give emergency crews a safety zone to work in. Drivers are required to move over when they see law enforcement officers, ambulance and fire crews as well tow trucks when their lights are activated and flashing.

If the speed limit of the road they encounter emergency crews on is less than 80kph driver must reduce their speed to 40kph. On roads where the speed limit is over 80kph drivers must reduce their speed to 60kph.

Drivers who fail to slow down or move over will face fines of 298 along with two demerits.