Give emergency crews a ‘brake’

If our lights are flashing, slow down when passing.

Edmonton’s emergency crews are teaming up to educate motorists to slow down and give emergency vehicles room to work on the roadways. .

The Edmonton Police Service, AMA, EMS and Edmonton Fire will stand together to remind drivers to slow down. Emergency services personnel experience near-misses from motorists speeding by roadside emergency vehicles and tow trucks far too often.

“Whether it’s an ambulance, fire truck, police cruiser or a tow truck, the law says slow down to 60 km/h or less if traveling in the lane next to the stopped emergency vehicle,” says Sgt. Gary Lamont with Edmonton Police Major Collision Investigations Unit. “It is also appreciated if vehicles move over a lane away from the stopped emergency vehicle to ensure emergency crews have enough room to work.”

“Emergency responders aren’t just vehicles with flashing lights,” says Colin MacDiarmid, a tow truck operator with the AMA. “We are all people with families and loved ones who are counting on us to make it home safely.”

Speeding past emergency vehicles falls under the Traffic Safety Act which results in heftier fines than regular speeding offenses.

from Media Releases http://ift.tt/1lPV5xe