A stern reminder to motorists, to slow down when approaching emergency responders.
Dieppe Fire department Division Chief Marc Cormier says just last week, they were forced to close Highway 2, while working at the scene of an accident, because motorists were putting firefighters at risk, “Motorists were failing to slow down, even with signs and pylons. We even had firefighters with lights and signs and flashing vests, and motorists were still driving by without slowing down.”
Operating at scene of MVC on highway 2. Nice to see motorists fly by us disregarding #firefightersafety #slowdownmoveover #itsthelaw
— Marc Cormier (@marcc435) April 13, 2016
He says, “It is the law. You have to slow down, and move over to the next lane and proceed carefully. It is in the motor vehicle act.”
The Dieppe Fire Department has a close call last winter, when Cormier says, one of their fire trucks was struck by a tractor trailer on the highway because the driver failed to yield to the red lights.
He says, “We are hearing more and more about other first responders around the world who are struck and killed by motorists while trying to assist others.”
Slow down and move over for stopped emergency and service vehicles. Lives are on the line. pic.twitter.com/hZDbpOurRt
— Emergency Management (@EmergMgt) April 10, 2016