Rules of the Road and Emergency Vehicles

The rules of the road are laws and safe practices that allow for the safe and efficient movement of vehicles, pedestrians and other road users. 

Special care must be taken on Island roads when dealing with emergency vehicles. It is our collective responsibility to protect the lives of emergency responders and recovery workers who are helping our neighbours as they deal with emergency situations.

Right-of-Way for Emergency Vehicles

Whenever an emergency vehicle, ambulance, fire department vehicle or police car, sounding a siren, horn or warning signals, approaches form any direction, you must yield the right-of-way by immediately moving clear of an intersection; driving as closely as possible to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway; and stopping and remaining stopped until the emergency vehicle or vehicles have passed.

NOTE: On one-way streets, pull to the right or left.

Parked Emergency Vehicles

If emergency vehicles are parked on the side of the road with their lights flashing - for example: a police car during a traffic stop - drivers must slow down to half the speed limit and move over a lane if it's safe to do so. 

Tow trucks and recovery vehicles have also recently been included as vehicles that require the same ‘slow down, move over’ rules as emergency vehicles. If a tow truck or recovery vehicle is parked on the side of the road, drivers must slow down to half the speed limit and move over a lane if it's safe to do so.

The fine for not slowing down for parked emergency vehicles is up to $1,000 and three demerit points.

Pay attention

If emergency responders are working on or near the highway, it's important to slow down and pay attention to the road. Look for officers or firefighters who may be directing traffic at an accident scene. Keep everyone safe by focusing on your driving.