Drivers can face fines if they don’t slow down for emergency vehicles on the highway.
But what about emergency roadside service providers?
Gary Howard, Spokesperson for CAA Atlantic, says they’ve been talking with government about adding providers like tow-trucks to the Slow Down Move Over legislation.
Howard says it’s an emergency for them too, because they have to get the vehicle off the road for the safety of the individual and other drivers.
He says it comes down to public education.
“Helping people to unstand A), about the law, but most importantly these people are working alongside the road [and] it can be a very dangerous situation.”
Howard says the simple thing is to slow down and move over when it’s safe to do so.
CAA and government have been talking about adding roadside service providers, and their contractors, to the Slow Down Move Over legislation.
He says CAA employees have felt unsafe when they’re working on the side of the road with cars whipping by, or not moving over.
“It makes good common sense and good behaviour,” he says.
“If you’re walking down the street you don’t just start bumping into people, you move around them.”
Howard says the same rules should apply for people working on the side of the road, trying to help others.
Full details on emergency roadside vehicles rules and regulations, visit Nova Scotia’s Transportation and Infrastruture Renewal.
