Tweet
Question for you all, both LEO and non-LEO. Where I live (Saskatchewan) we are required to slow down to 60 kph when passing emergency vehicles on the side of the road. As far as I know (correct me if I'm wrong) there are only two provinces in Canada that require motorists to slow down to a specific speed while passing EV. I have no clue what the laws are in the US, however.
I remember reading the paper one day and there was an editorial in my city's newspaper written by an irate Albertan who vowed to never return to Saskatchewan because she got a ticket for not slowing down to 60 kph while passing an EV and she thought this was ridiculous. I am aware that in Alberta it is suggested that you slow down, but not required and in Saskatchewan we have signs everywhere stating that you must slow down to 60.
Not too long after a response to that editorial appeared in the paper an RCMP officer in Alberta was killed when his vehicle was hit by another vehicle while he was stopped on the side of the road. Also back in 1999 (I think. Somewhere around there) another RCMP officer stopped on the side on the side of a highway here in Saskatchewan was hit by a semi. (Someone told me that the semi driver spilled his pop and while reaching down to get it, accidently swerved in the way of the RCMP officer. Can anyone confirm?) There's a commercial too on TV based on this accident (it scares the crap out of me everytime. I always think it's a drunk driving commerical, so I'm always off guard) stating the slowing down law.
How do you all feel about the lack of laws requiring motorist to slow down?
I myself find it hard to believe that anyone would not want to slow down when passing an emergency vehicle on the side of the road, and I find it hard to believe that there's only two provinces in Canada that have a law for this. I personally feel that even 60 kph is too fast and find myself slowing down to 40 kph if it's at night because half the time it's too hard to see where the police officer is with all the lights flashing, and it being dark outside, etc.
I remember reading the paper one day and there was an editorial in my city's newspaper written by an irate Albertan who vowed to never return to Saskatchewan because she got a ticket for not slowing down to 60 kph while passing an EV and she thought this was ridiculous. I am aware that in Alberta it is suggested that you slow down, but not required and in Saskatchewan we have signs everywhere stating that you must slow down to 60.
Not too long after a response to that editorial appeared in the paper an RCMP officer in Alberta was killed when his vehicle was hit by another vehicle while he was stopped on the side of the road. Also back in 1999 (I think. Somewhere around there) another RCMP officer stopped on the side on the side of a highway here in Saskatchewan was hit by a semi. (Someone told me that the semi driver spilled his pop and while reaching down to get it, accidently swerved in the way of the RCMP officer. Can anyone confirm?) There's a commercial too on TV based on this accident (it scares the crap out of me everytime. I always think it's a drunk driving commerical, so I'm always off guard) stating the slowing down law.
How do you all feel about the lack of laws requiring motorist to slow down?
I myself find it hard to believe that anyone would not want to slow down when passing an emergency vehicle on the side of the road, and I find it hard to believe that there's only two provinces in Canada that have a law for this. I personally feel that even 60 kph is too fast and find myself slowing down to 40 kph if it's at night because half the time it's too hard to see where the police officer is with all the lights flashing, and it being dark outside, etc.
Comment