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NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. -- Slow down and move over.
Ontario already has a law requiring motorists to slow down and move over when they see an emergency vehicle such as a police cruiser or an ambulance on the side of the road with lights activated.
The Canadian Automobile Association is now pushing to have that law amended to include tow truck drivers.
"We are really hoping to get this passed,” said Bill Willard, vice-president of automotive services for CAA Niagara. “Everyone deserves to have a safe work environment and these roadside heroes are just as important as a police officer or anybody else who is on the side of the highway.
"This year we had two very close calls. One driver pretty well had to dive into the ditch to miss being hit and another one, the driver luckily got out of the way and the car hit our truck."
He said five provinces already have this legislation and the CAA was making progress in Ontario before the last municipal election. The law passed first reading and now its at the petition stage.
"They wanted it all on paper so we don't have it online," said Willard. "We have the petitions available at all of our CAA offices, we have them in all our trucks, and we have also given them to the other towing companies and they are so happy that we have taken this on," Willard said.
The petitions need to be collected by Dec. 12.
The proposed provision would amend current legislation to read: "Slow down on approaching stopped emergency vehicle or tow truck."
Police are dismayed to see a steady increase in the number of "Move Over" charges being laid against drivers since 2010.
There were 1,502 charges laid last year and it suggests many drivers may be unaware of the law aimed at keeping police and other emergency responders safe on the roadside.
Since 1989, five OPP officers have been killed as a result of being struck by a motor vehicle while doing their job on the roadside. Many more have been injured.
NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. -- Slow down and move over.
Ontario already has a law requiring motorists to slow down and move over when they see an emergency vehicle such as a police cruiser or an ambulance on the side of the road with lights activated.
The Canadian Automobile Association is now pushing to have that law amended to include tow truck drivers.
"We are really hoping to get this passed,” said Bill Willard, vice-president of automotive services for CAA Niagara. “Everyone deserves to have a safe work environment and these roadside heroes are just as important as a police officer or anybody else who is on the side of the highway.
"This year we had two very close calls. One driver pretty well had to dive into the ditch to miss being hit and another one, the driver luckily got out of the way and the car hit our truck."
He said five provinces already have this legislation and the CAA was making progress in Ontario before the last municipal election. The law passed first reading and now its at the petition stage.
"They wanted it all on paper so we don't have it online," said Willard. "We have the petitions available at all of our CAA offices, we have them in all our trucks, and we have also given them to the other towing companies and they are so happy that we have taken this on," Willard said.
The petitions need to be collected by Dec. 12.
The proposed provision would amend current legislation to read: "Slow down on approaching stopped emergency vehicle or tow truck."
Police are dismayed to see a steady increase in the number of "Move Over" charges being laid against drivers since 2010.
There were 1,502 charges laid last year and it suggests many drivers may be unaware of the law aimed at keeping police and other emergency responders safe on the roadside.
Since 1989, five OPP officers have been killed as a result of being struck by a motor vehicle while doing their job on the roadside. Many more have been injured.
