It’s no fun when cars buzz you on the side of the road!
CAA-Quebec salutes its patrollers on Slow Down Move Over Day
For this first-ever Slow Down Move Over Day, CAA-Quebec is giving the floor to its Roadside Assistance patrollers, those heroes who, despite their yellow vests and flashing lights, risk life limb every day.
It’s the law: slow down and move over whenever you encounter an emergency vehicle. It’s been part of the Highway Safety Code since 2012. And the message from our patrollers is simple: you make an important contribution to reducing risk when you move over and slow down, no matter what type of emergency vehicle is stopped.
Alain Lévesque, patroller and instructor at CAA-Quebec for 28 years
“When traffic goes whizzing by, it creates a huge gust. You can get blown right into the middle of the road. It’s scary! Once it was so strong I couldn’t open my door.
“For the police, firefighters, and ambulances, people tend to pay attention. But for tow trucks, at least half don’t. But things are getting better. If just one car moves over, then they all do. People follow the lead.”
Martin Hallé, patroller at CAA-Quebec for 12 years
“A few years back, I was on Highway 20 helping tow a vehicle out of the ditch, and another vehicle came roaring up. It had to brake to avoid the police car behind me, and it flipped and landed on its roof. I threw down my controls and dove into a snowbank!”
Alain Rhéaume, patroller at CAA-Quebec for 39 years
The sound can be deafening when traffic passes too closely by. “Cars have really buzzed me more than once!” says Alain. “I want to see my grandchildren grow up. It would be nice knowing when I go to work that it isn’t my last day on the job.
“You have to move over to give us room, so if we slip up it doesn’t mean we’re going to get hit. Those aren’t machines working around emergency vehicles. They’re humans! So slow down, and move over if you can. It’ll take you just a moment, maybe 5 or 10 seconds of your life.”
What’s the Move Over Law?
As SAAQ writes on its website, “when an emergency vehicle, a tow truck, or a surveillance vehicle is stopped by the side of the road and its yellow arrow light signal, rotating lights, or flashing lights are activated, you must slow down and move over.”
So reduce your speed and, if you can do so safely, change lanes. Otherwise keep as far away as possible. That way you let our patrollers and all roadside workers do their jobs safely and securely.
CAA-Quebec wishes to thank our patrollers who work so hard to help members when they need it most.
About CAA-Quebec
CAA-Quebec is a not-for-profit organization that assists each of its members by providing mobility, travel, insurance, and residential benefits, products, and services.