RENFREW COUNTY (Pembroke) — The Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has concluded their Civic Holiday long weekend traffic safety initiative which took place from August 2 to August 5, 2019.
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 driver is required to move over and leave one lane between their vehicle and the emergency vehicle when it can be done safely.
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 and lack of occupant restraint.
Over the course of the traffic safety initiative Upper Ottawa Valley OPP officers laid several charges including 41 speeding charges, 16 hazardous moving violation charges, six seatbelt charges, and one charge for failing to move over for an emergency vehicle.
Officers also laid two impaired driving charges under the Criminal Code and one charge under the Liquor License Act.
The Upper Ottawa Valley OPP Marine Unit was also on patrol over the long weekend and laid two charges, including a charge for towing a person behind a boat without a spotter.
