The Ontario Provincial Police says the number of charges laid for not moving over for emergency vehicles parked on the side of a highway has increased 69.6%.
There were 2,443 charges laid across Ontario in 2016, compared to 1,181 in 2011.
Constable Travis Parsons does not have the statistics for 2017 yet, but police anticipate charges have not decreased.
In response, the OPP is launching a "Move Over" campaign this long weekend to remind drivers the law requires them to slow down when they see an emergency vehicle with its lights flashing, and if they can safely, move over a lane.
"Any time an officer conducts a traffic stop on a highway, it's always a significant risk; not only to the officer but to the public," says Parsons.
Drivers are also required to move over for fire personnel, EMS paramedics, even tow truck drivers.
In January 2012, LaSalle tow truck driver Paul Rocheleau died when he was struck by a car while attending to a breakdown on the side of Hwy. 3 near Montgomery St. in Windsor. A London man later pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving.
Three years after Rocheleau's death Section 159 of the Highway Traffic Act was amended to include tow truck drivers, but the move over law has been on the books for 15 years.
Despite its longevity, many drivers still seem to be unaware of it, and Parsons says he and other officers have heard many excuses for not complying over the years.
"Simply, they didn't know about the law, or they didn't feel it was safe to do so, or just inattentiveness. They say they didn't see the officer," he says.
There are instances where drivers are not required to move over.
"We do not want to put the public at risk," insists Parsons. "When it is safe to do so, you must slow down and change lanes."
