A recent assessment done by CAA Manitoba and the Winnipeg Police Service is showing hundreds of drivers are failing to slow down when passing tow trucks.
It is a law in Manitoba that drivers are required to slow down and move over when passing tow trucks at work, and it has been in effect for six years.
The assessment is reporting that compliance with this law is disturbingly low.
On Tuesday, CAA Manitoba worked with the Winnipeg Police service to assess drivers’ awareness and obedience by staging two calls for roadside assistance on McGillivary Boulevard and Portage Avenue.
“In one hour, 11 motorists slowed down and moved over on McGillivray Boulevard, while only a single driver followed the letter of the law on Portage Avenue,” said Liz Kulyk, Corporate Manager of Government and Community Relations for CAA Manitoba in a release. “These are high traffic areas in the city where drivers can breakdown, and we all need to be scanning the road and ready to practice common sense safety by slowing down and moving over.”
Under the Highway Traffic Act, motorists are required to give one lane of space to a tow truck on the side of the road with flashing lights on multi-lane roads. Drivers must also slow down to 60 kilometres per hour for higher speed zones, or slow to 40 kilometres per hour if the posted speed limit is less than 80.
Penalties may include a fine of $300 up to $2000, two demerits, and drivers could get have their license suspended. Rob Riffel, Staff Sergeant for the WPS Traffic Division says this is a problem police see often at traffic stops.
“That isn’t just a tow truck or a police car on the side of the road; it’s someone doing their job to make sure your friend, family or neighbour gets the help they need, as soon as possible,” said Riffel. “It only takes a few moments to slow down and move over, but it can mean the difference between life and death for these workers and the people they are assisting.”
A similar assessment was conducted on the TransCanada Highway just west of Winnipeg two years ago.
