This is an unmarked police vehicle that was sideswiped by a driver who failed to slow down and/or pull over.
Image Credit: RCMP
September 18, 2013 - 9:04 AM
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Drivers are still not getting the message about slowing down or pulling over for police cars.
In response the RCMP will step up their campaign this month, enforcing the slow-down and move-over rules, Cpl. Dan Moskaluk says.
RCMP traffic services officers and other personnel are reporting being involved in some very close calls due to motorists failing to slow down and move over on B.C. highways. It may be that a large number of motorists are not aware of the law or simply choose to ignore it.
"These drivers are certainly not being mindful of the disastrous consequences of their driving habit when they fail to simply slow down and move over," Cpl. Bernie Parent of the RCMP Central Interior Traffic Services says.
In the summer of 2009 the British Columbia Motor Vehicle Act Regulations were amended to include Section 47.01 and Section 47.02 which deals with a driver’s responsibility when encountering official vehicles stopped on a highway with their emergency lights activated.
Under this law motorist are required to do two things. Drive their motor vehicle at 70 kilometres per hour if the posted speed is 80 km/h or more when approaching or passing a police car or other official vehicle or slow down to 40 km/h if the posted speed is less than 80 km/h. Drivers also have to switch lanes when it's safe and legal to do so when passing motor vehicles.
Encountering an official vehicle, can also result in a charge of excessive speed with vehicle impoundment should the driver exceed either speeds of 40 km/h or 70 km/h in excess of 41 km/h or more.
Video Credit: RCMP
An RCMP officer is nearly struck by oncoming traffic after making a routine stop.
To contact a reporter for this story, to send photos or videos, email Shannon Quesnel at squesnel@infotelnews.ca, call 250-488-3065 or tweet @shannonquesnel1
News from © iNFOnews, 2013