Add StudioX as a preferred source on GoogleMost drivers in British Columbia know they must slow down and move over for stopped vehicles with flashing lights, but many are not doing it, according to BCAA survey results reported by Daily Hive Vancouver.
What the survey found
A recent BCAA survey found that 88 per cent of drivers know what to do when approaching a vehicle with flashing lights. However, 81 per cent said they have seen other drivers fail to follow the law.
Daniel Quigley, BCAA’s senior manager, road assist fleet, said in a statement that the news is mostly good because most drivers know the law. “What we need is for more people to put it into practice,” he said.
BCAA also pointed to a Road Safety at Work survey that showed some confusion about the rules. Some 98 per cent of respondents correctly said the law applies to emergency vehicles such as police cars, ambulances and fire trucks. Only 30 per cent realized it also covers vehicles with flashing yellow lights, such as tow trucks and roadside assistance vehicles.
What the law requires
Under the Slow Down, Move Over law, drivers in B.C. must slow down and move over for any vehicle stopped alongside the road with flashing red, blue or yellow lights.
The B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Transit says this includes:
- maintenance and utility workers
- police, fire and ambulance crews
- tow trucks
- Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement personnel
- land surveyors
- animal control workers
- garbage collectors and other roadside workers
Quigley said slowing down and moving over when it is safe helps create a safer environment for roadside workers, emergency responders and the people they are assisting.
BCAA’s advice for drivers
BCAA is reminding drivers to slow down safely when they see flashing lights ahead. Its tips include:
- If cones mark the area, pay attention to them and watch for roadside workers or sudden changes in traffic.
- If it is safe, move into a lane away from the vehicles on the roadside.
- Keep your speed low while passing the scene.
- Leave extra space between your vehicle and the one ahead.
Source: Daily Hive Vancouver (lead)
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving multilingual diaspora communities across Canada. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, NEPMCC, and the Canadian Freelance Union (Unifor). Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
