RCMP Sergeant Bert Paquet says a driver must slow down to 60 km/hr when passing an emergency vehicle if the posted speed limit is 80 km/hr or more, and slow down to 40 km/hr if the posted speed limit is less than 80 km/hr. He adds, when safe to do so, the driver is also expected to move to the farthest driving lane to give the emergency personnel extra room to work. 

RCMP officer places a pylon in the closest highway lane forcing drivers to move over to the farthest lane, though most still pass at 100+ km/hr. (Photo credit: RCMP Manitoba Twitter)

"Usually when there are emergency vehicles and personnel on the side of the road it's a dynamic, evolving situation, and not always predictable. We're not only asking [people] to make that safe decision for the safety of emergency personnel but also, because it's a dynamic situation that changes quickly, for the safety of motorists as well."

Paquet says emergency personnel, including RCMP and police officers, firefighters, paramedics, as well as tow truck drivers would have stories of close calls and some would have tragic stories.

"I was personally clipped without suffering any major injuries, just a bruising on the hip, but clipped by a vehicle while I was talking to a driver I had just pulled over," notes Paquet. "Thankfully, the speed wasn't high and the impact wasn't that serious, but there are just so many close calls. We are often, unfortunately, just a few seconds or just a few centimeters away from a real tragedy and we have seen those in our area in the past."

Paquet adds arriving a few minutes later to your destination should be an easy decision because slowing down and moving over to a farther lane, when possible and safe to do so, is keeping emergency personnel safe, especially when it's their job to keep everyone else safe.

Fines for not slowing down and moving over include a $299.65 ticket and two demerits.