The Upper Ottawa Valley (UOV) Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has concluded their Civic Holiday long weekend traffic safety initiative which took place from July 30 to August 2, 2021.
The campaign focused on the Move Over Law which requires drivers to slow down and proceed with caution when approaching an emergency vehicle, including tow trucks, parked on the side of a highway with its lights activated. If the highway has more than one lane, the law requires the driver to move over and leave one lane between their vehicle and the parked emergency vehicle if it can be done safely.
Failure to do so can result in fines starting from $400 to $2,000 and three demerit points.
In addition to the Move Over law, officers also paid specific attention to "The Big 4" which in terms of personal injury causation are impaired driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving (speeding) and lack of occupant restraint.
Over the course of the traffic safety initiative Upper Ottawa Valley OPP officers laid several charges including 49 speeding charges, two seatbelt charges, two distracted driving charges, one stunt driving charge, and one charge for failing to move over for an emergency vehicle. Officers also laid two alcohol-related impaired driving charges under the Criminal Code.