Move Over. Slow Down. It’s the Law in Ontario.
At the end of 2025, a 42-year-old tow truck driver was killed on Highway 401 while assisting a stranded motorist. He was working roadside, with flashing lights activated, when he was struck in a hit-and-run.
It was a devastating reminder that Ontario’s Move Over Law is not optional. It is there to save lives.
Under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act, drivers must slow down and proceed with caution when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing red, blue, or amber lights, including tow trucks. If the roadway has two or more lanes travelling in the same direction, drivers are required to leave one full lane of space, if it is safe to do so.
If an emergency vehicle approaches from behind with lights or sirens activated, the law requires you to slow down, signal, pull to the right (clear of intersections), and stop until it passes.
Penalties for failing to comply are significant. A first offence carries fines between $400 and $2,000, three demerit points, and a possible licence suspension. Subsequent offences within five years can result in higher fines and even jail time.
But the true consequence isn’t a fine — it’s a life lost.
Tow truck operators often work on narrow shoulders with no physical buffer from traffic. When you see flashing lights ahead, take your foot off the gas and move over safely.
When you see flashing lights, don’t hesitate. Slow down. Create space. Someone’s family is waiting for them to come home.
