Skip to content

Drivesmart column: B.C.’s Slow Down, Move Over law

B.C.’s Slow Down, Move Over law came into effect over two decades ago
27305639_web1_211103-NBU-drive-smart-column-2_1

By Tim Schewe

B.C.’s Slow Down, Move Over law came into effect over two decades ago. When an official vehicle is stopped at the side of the highway and displaying flashing lights, red, blue or yellow, approaching traffic is required to slow down and move over. The law is meant to provide a safe workspace for the emergency and roadside workers.

What is an official vehicle?

47.01 (1) In this Division, “official vehicle” means a vehicle that

(a) is authorized under section 4.28 to display flashes of red, blue, white or amber light

(2) Despite subsection (1), a school bus is not an official vehicle for the purposes of this Division.

Examples of Official Vehicles include emergency vehicles such as police, ambulance and fire apparatus. Maintenance and utility vehicles are included too; towing, road maintenance, public utility and roadside repair vehicles qualify under this law.

Approaching a stopped official vehicle

The slow down half of the law requires overtaking motorists to slow to 70 km/h on highways posted at 80 km/h and higher and to 40 km/h in all other speed zones. Perhaps another way to think of this law would be the 70/40 rule with 80 km/h being the dividing line.

The move over portion requires that if it is safe to do so, you will move into the unoccupied adjacent lanes. This could mean the adjacent lane in the same direction if there are multiple lanes, or the oncoming lane if there are not.

Remember, if you have to use the oncoming lane, you have no lawful excuse to encroach on it when there is oncoming traffic.

What if I can’t move over?

You are required to move out of the lane adjacent to the official vehicle only if it is safe to do so.

If moving over would create a danger to other road users you are only required to slow down.

Penalties for failing to slow down or move over

A violation ticket for either of these offences costs a driver $173 and three penalty points.

Unintended consequences

I have come across road maintenance vehicles parked near the roadside, lights flashing, with the operator working well off the road where there is no danger from passing traffic. This may be from force of habit rather than conscious thought, but flashing lights should not be turned on when there is no danger present.

Police vehicle operators may also choose to move their stop to a safer location once they make their initial approach to the violator. If you are being pulled over by police using only their flashing lights but without the siren, you should choose to stop in a safe spot instead of immediately pulling over.

Regardless, it is still up to approaching drivers to slow down and move over.

It is your responsibility to be safe

If you read case law, the justice will often mention that is your responsibility as a driver to be able to respond safely to situations that may reasonably be encountered on the highway. A slow down, move over situation is one of them.

Tim Schewe is a retired constable with many years of traffic law enforcement. To comment or learn more, please visit DriveSmartBC.ca