As the Civic Day long weekend approaches, one of the busiest travel periods of the year, the OPP is urging drivers to stay alert and follow Ontario’s Move Over law. The Move Over law requires motorists to slow down when approaching an emergency vehicle with its lights flashing, and on multi-lane roads, to safely change lanes away from the stopped vehicle. In 2024, the OPP issued nearly 2,000 charges to drivers who ignored the law, which is in place to protect emergency workers assisting others on the roadside.
This weekend, officers will be monitoring roads across the province, watching for speeders, distracted and impaired drivers, and checking that everyone in the vehicle is wearing a seatbelt. Police will also be patrolling Ontario’s waterways and trails, reminding everyone to make safety a priority for an enjoyable and incident-free long weekend.
So far this year (Jan.1-July 27, 2025), 182 people have lost their lives in road collisions, eight (8) boaters/paddlers have been killed in marine incidents and eight (8) people have died in off-road vehicle incidents.
Non-compliance with Ontario’s Move Over law carries a $490 to $2,000 fine plus three demerit points upon conviction. Subsequent offences carry a fine between $1,000 and $4,000, possible jail time of up to six months and suspension of your driver’s licence for up to two years.
Written by: C. Soares