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Highway Traffic Act amendment will protect police officers, firefighters and emergency personnel
TORONTO, April 3 /CNW/ - Bill 191, an amendment to the Highway Traffic
Act, was proclaimed today, Bob Runciman, Minister of Public Safety and
Security, announced.
    The legislation - Bill 191, Highway Traffic Act Amendment Act (Emergency
Vehicle Safety), 2002 - will protect police officers, firefighters and other
emergency personnel whose vehicles are stopped on the shoulder of the
province's roadways with red lights flashing. Motorists will have to slow down
and, where possible and safe to do so, move to a lane not adjacent to the one
in which the emergency vehicle is situated.
    "By forcing drivers to slow down and move over, we are protecting those
who protect us," Runciman said. "We all benefit when these dedicated workers
are able to do their job efficiently and without having to worry about their
personal safety. They understand what they do is dangerous, but there is no
need to subject them to additional risk."
    "This government is delivering on its commitment to give police officers,
firefighters and paramedics the tools they need to do their vital jobs,"
Transportation Minister Frank Klees said. "We continue to work to keep our
communities safe, with legislation that protects those who protect us."
    "The personal safety of our officers is at risk when dealing with
roadside emergencies, issuing speeding tickets or providing assistance to
motorists," Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Gwen Boniface said. "This
new legislation will be instrumental in protecting Ontario Provincial Police
officers and our roadside emergency partners as they endeavour to keep our
roadways safe for the motoring public."
    The legislation will apply to all stopped vehicles, excluding school
buses, with flashing red lights. Section 62 (15.1) of the Highway Traffic Act
authorizes ambulance, fire, police and public utility emergency vehicles and
ministries of transportation, natural resources and environment to use red
lights.
    "Many motorists don't recognize the high risk front-line police officers
can face during routine traffic stops," Brian Adkin, president of the Ontario
Provincial Police Association, said. "We don't necessarily think of pulling
off to the side of the highway to issue a speeding ticket or to investigate an
accident as a dangerous part of an officer's job. This legislation is critical
to our members' safety. It speaks to the commitment that the government has
for front-line emergency personnel."
    Those convicted of disobeying the law can expect to be dealt with
severely. For the first offence, the fine will be not less than $400 and not
more than $2,000. For second and subsequent convictions, the fine is a minimum
of $1,000 to a maximum of $4,000, six months in jail or both a fine and jail
sentence. All convictions will result in the addition of three demerit points
to a driver's record. The court can also suspend a motorist's driver's licence
for up to two years.
    "We have lost four officers in Ontario in recent years when they or their
vehicles have been stopped at the side of the road," Bruce Miller, the
administrator of the Police Association of Ontario (PAO), said. "This new
legislation will help to protect both front-line police officers and the
citizens they serve. We believe that it will go a long way to help prevent
further tragedies." The PAO represents 22,000 front-line police personnel.
    "Firefighters are frequently the first to arrive at the scene of
incidents on highways," Milt Wilson, president of the Ontario Association of
Fire Chiefs, said. "This legislation will give our workers added protection,
especially before police arrive to direct traffic. I am pleased the government
is taking this step to protect firefighters and everyone else that responds to
incidents on the highways."
    Saskatchewan is the only other Canadian province to have similar
legislation. A number of American states also have some type of emergency
safety vehicle legislation.

    Disponible en français

              For more information visit www.mpss.jus.gov.on.ca



    Backgrounder
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Ministry of Public Safety and Security
                                                                  April 2003


                     IMPROVING EMERGENCY WORKERS' SAFETY
                   ON THE SIDE OF THE PROVINCE'S HIGHWAYS

    Enforcing the law and providing roadside assistance is inherently
dangerous for police, fire and other emergency workers. Emergency personnel
stopped for an incident at the side of the road are sometimes in danger.
Frequently, they are placed in close proximity to vehicles travelling at
extremely high rates of speed.
    Since 1995, several members of the Ontario Provincial Police have been
killed as a direct result of a motor vehicle collision when their cruisers
were parked on the shoulder of the road. In the United States, some 200 police
officers have lost their lives in a similar fashion. A number of U.S. states
have introduced legislation requiring drivers to change lanes and reduce speed
when approaching an authorized vehicle. Saskatchewan also has enacted similar
legislation.
    The legislation, which received Royal Assent in December 2002 and was
proclaimed April 3, 2003, is designed to increase the safety of police and
other emergency personnel and deter those driving recklessly.
    A number of U.S. states also have legislation in place requiring drivers
to yield the right of way to approaching emergency vehicles.

    Ontario's law:

    -   Requires drivers to slow down, and proceed with caution when
        travelling on all highways in the same direction as a stopped
        emergency vehicle with its red lights flashing. If the highway has
        two or more lanes, the driver must move over into another lane if it
        can be done safely.

    -   In all circumstances drivers must take into consideration traffic and
        weather conditions when taking the appropriate action when
        approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with its red lights
        activated.

    -   A person who contravenes these requirements will be guilty of an
        offence punishable, for a first offence, by a fine of $400 to $2,000
        and for subsequent offences by a fine of $1,000 to $4,000, or to
        imprisonment for a maximum of six months, or to both a fine and
        imprisonment. All convictions will result in the addition of three
        demerit points to a driver's record. The court that convicts a person
        of an offence may also suspend his or her driver's licence for a
        maximum of two years.

    Disponible en français

              For more information visit www.mpss.jus.gov.on.ca



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For further information: Contacts: Bruce O'Neill, Ministry of Public
Safety and Security, (416) 326-5005; James Wallace, Minister's Office,    
(416) 325-5982
  

 

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