8.3 Emergency Vehicles, Tow Trucks & Move Over Law

Emergency Vehicles, Tow Trucks & Move Over Law

Quick Summary: Emergency vehicles responding to urgent calls require immediate, unobstructed right-of-way. Under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, drivers must promptly pull to the nearest curb (usually the right-hand edge) and stop when an emergency vehicle approaches with active sirens and flashing lights; if already inside an intersection, clear it before stopping. Under Ontario's move-over law (HTA Section 159), when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle or a tow truck with flashing lights, drivers must slow down below the posted speed limit and move over at least one lane if safe to do so. Violating the Move Over Law carries fines up to $2,000, 3 demerit points, and possible licence suspension.

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Approaching Active Emergency Vehicles: Sirens and Flashing Lights

The handbook says emergency vehicles (police, fire, ambulance and special public-utility vehicles) are identified by flashing red or blue lights, a siren or bell, or alternating flashes of white light from their headlamp high beams. Emergency services also use bicycles, snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles, buses and trucks.

The Pull-to-the-Right Rule

When an emergency vehicle approaches from any direction with its flashing red, or red and blue, lights or its siren or bell sounding, you must bring your vehicle to an immediate stop:

1. Where: As near as practical to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, parallel to the road and clear of any intersections, including highway on- and off-ramps.
2. One-way roads and divided highways with more than two lanes: move to the closest curb or edge, which may be the left side.
3. Freeways: Pull as close as you can to the right side of the road, but do not move onto or stop on the shoulder. Emergency vehicles may be travelling along it when lanes are blocked.
4. How: Signal well in advance, check all around, adjust your speed to merge toward that side, then brake gradually. Avoid sudden changes of direction or hard braking, and watch for vehicles closing fast behind you.
5. Afterwards: Watch for more emergency vehicles, then check that the way is clear and signal before merging back.

Flashing green lights: Some firefighters and volunteer medical responders use a flashing green light on their own vehicles when responding. Yield the right-of-way to help them get through.

Critical Intersection Protocol: Never Stop in an Intersection

One of the most frequently tested scenarios on the Ontario G1 test addresses how to handle emergency vehicles near intersections:

• If Approaching an Intersection: Do not enter the intersection. Signal, pull to the right curb before the crosswalk or intersection entrance, and stop.
• If Already Inside the Intersection and Preparing to Turn: The handbook says to abandon the turn and clear the intersection by proceeding straight when safe, then pull to the right and stop. The emergency vehicle may be passing on the side you meant to turn toward.

Prohibited Following Distance

It is illegal to follow within 150 metres of a fire vehicle responding to an alarm (handbook). Ontario.ca also names ambulances responding to a call.

When Police Pull You Over

If police signal you to stop, with lights or siren behind you or hand signals from the roadside, follow the same careful procedure. This time, stop outside the traffic lanes, on the shoulder where possible, or turn onto a quieter side street nearby, and follow any directions the officer gives. Stay in your vehicle. You must surrender your licence, vehicle permit and insurance on request immediately; you do not have 24 hours.

The Ontario Move Over Law (HTA Section 159)

Historically, emergency personnel, police officers, and tow truck operators working on highway shoulders suffered high rates of severe and fatal collisions caused by inattentive drivers traveling at high speeds in adjacent lanes. To protect these vulnerable frontline workers, Ontario enacted the Move Over Law under HTA Section 159.

Which Vehicles Are Protected?

The move-over rule applies when you approach, in your direction of travel, either of these stopped vehicles:

• Emergency vehicles (police, fire, ambulance) stopped with their red, or red and blue, lights flashing.
• Tow trucks stopped with their amber lights flashing.

For other roadside workers and vehicles, such as road maintenance, utility crews or disabled vehicles, the handbook still says to slow down, pass with caution and, if safe, move over a lane.

Your Duties Under HTA s. 159

When approaching a protected vehicle stopped on the road or shoulder with its emergency lights flashing, your legal duties depend on the highway design:

1. Multi-Lane Highways (Two or More Lanes in the Same Direction)

If the highway has two or more lanes traveling in the same direction:

• Slow Down: Reduce your speed. The handbook says to judge the speed of surrounding traffic and the road conditions, and to brake early and gradually. With a manual transmission, use the brakes rather than downshifting so your brake lights warn drivers behind.
• Proceed with Caution: Exercise heightened awareness for roadside personnel, flashing flares, and debris.
• Move Over: You must move out of the lane adjacent to the stopped vehicle and occupy a lane at least one lane away, provided this lane change can be executed safely without endangering other motorists.
• What If You Cannot Move Over Safely? If dense traffic or lack of an open gap prevents you from changing lanes safely, do not slam on the brakes or cut off other vehicles. Remain in your lane, reduce your speed substantially, and proceed past the stopped vehicle with extreme caution.

2. Two-Lane Roads (One Lane in Each Direction)

On a two-lane undivided road, you cannot change lanes into the opposing lane without creating severe oncoming collision risks:

• You must slow down significantly below the posted limit.
• Proceed past the stopped vehicle with caution, giving as much lateral clearance as possible within your travel lane.

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Statutory Penalties for Violating the Move Over Law

Ontario enforces strict penalties for motorists who fail to slow down or move over when passing stopped emergency vehicles and tow trucks:

• First Offence Conviction:
  • Court fine ranging from $400 to $2,000.
  • 3 demerit points added to your driving record.
  • Discretionary driver's licence suspension of up to 2 years imposed by the court for egregious violations.
• Subsequent Offences (within 5 years):
  • Court fine ranging from $1,000 to $4,000.
  • 3 demerit points.
  • Potential court-ordered imprisonment for up to 6 months.
  • Discretionary licence suspension of up to 2 years.

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Defensive Driving Habits at Emergency & Roadside Scenes

Navigating roadside emergency scenes safely requires proactive driving habits that extend beyond minimum legal compliance:

• Scan Ahead for Flashing Lights: Flashing emergency lights are visible from over a kilometre away at night. As soon as you spot flashing red, blue, or amber lights, begin checking your rearview and side mirrors to locate an open lane.
• Signal Early: Activate your turn signal well in advance to indicate to trailing traffic that you are merging away from the shoulder.
• Avoid "Rubbernecking": Rubbernecking—slowing down excessively while staring at a collision scene or police traffic stop—is a primary cause of secondary rear-end crashes and severe traffic jams. Keep your eyes focused forward on your lane of travel and surrounding vehicles.

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Summary Table: Emergency Vehicles & Move Over Law Comparison