By Sarah Stone

City looks at upping fines for disobeying emergency lights

Dec 11, 2014 | 4:42 PM

When emergency crews like firefighters, paramedics and police need to get somewhere fast, sirens and lights are activated on their vehicles. This is a sign to everyone else to move to the right and get out of the way, so they can pass.

However, according to Coun. Martin Ring some drivers are ignoring these cues.

“What we’ve seen lately is an increase in people just not obeying the lights. It just seems they’re just not paying attention to it,” Ring said.

At Monday’s council meeting he brought up the idea of increasing the fine outlined in the Traffic Safety Act to discourage this behaviour. Ring said on Wednesday that the conversation started up when the Prince Albert Fire Department requested an addition to the lights in front of the hall on 15th Street to encourage drivers to stop when they flash—this was shot down by council. 

“I’ve seen it firsthand; vehicles just ignoring the lights that are presently there. The lights are flashing on the trucks and people are still trying to pull around them.  It’s just total disrespect for our emergency vehicles,” Ring said.

GST Holiday

Federal government's two-month GST holiday begins

5m ago

Imminent need

Council set to discuss possible location for homeless shelter on 15th Street

5h ago

International Spotlight

P.A.'s Howe one of 4 Sask. born players named to Canada's World Junior roster

21h ago

“Emergency vehicles are coming down very busy streets and, at times, the streets are extremely busy and they have to get through and people just ignore it and I think it’s time for us to step up and take a look at it, see what we can do in regards to it.”

To find a solution for this Ring wants the city to review the possibility of increasing the fines for drivers who do not obey, or don’t try and move to the right for emergency vehicles, as per the Traffic Safety Act. 

Currently tickets for this offence stand at $125 provincially.

“I’ve see it in other jurisdictions.  I know that the fines are extremely heavy … when those emergency vehicles…put on their emergency lights and sirens, it’s like the parting of the red sea.”

For Ring, this is all a safety issue.

One location where there’s a high price for not moving over is California, according Ring, where fines sit at just under $1,000.  Ring isn’t sure if he would propose having fines that severe, but added it’s worth examining. He suggested installing cameras on emergency vehicles to record plates of those who don’t pull over.

Lyle Karasiuk with Parkland Ambulance said for them it hasn’t been a significant issue.

However, traffic yielding to emergency vehicles is significant concern, he added.

“Especially in the winter time … the roadways are a little bit narrower, they’re snow-covered and they’re a little bit tougher to navigate.  Therefore we always encourage people, especially in the wintertime, to leave your windows open even a little bit, so you can hear,” he said.

When going through intersections, Karasiuk said paramedics understand it can sometimes be tricky for drivers to move their vehicles, so caution is always used.

Suggestions when emergency lights and sirens are activated

Leave your window open a bit so you can hear the outside noise;
Keep windows clear of ice and snow so that your visibility is not impaired;
Ensure that your windshield wipers work effectively to clear the ice and snow
Slow down on icy streets and give yourself plenty of stopping distance
Watch for pedestrians, who like holiday drivers, might cross between parked cars or against the do not walk sign.
If approached by an emergency vehicle from the rear, pull to the right, or pull safely through an intersection to create the opening for the emergency vehicles.
On highways, don’t keep the cruise on, slow down and watch for ice and snow on highway shoulders to give emergency vehicles plenty of room to pass.

“Red lights and sirens are asking the privilege for us to proceed through the intersection.” 

He said in the Highway Traffic Act they are given the right to go through an intersection, but that privilege needs to be used appropriately and respectful by paramedics.

“Seconds are important to us, as they are to any of the emergency services; it is also in our interest that the public is safe when they’re going through,” he said.

 “I’m encouraged for Councillor Ring making this an issue and raising the profile and I’m hoping the public will take heed and take his message, but also hear the message from us to just give a little room to operate.”

Right now the City is just starting a preliminary phase of creating a report on ticketing in Prince Albert to even see if the idea of increased fines should be discussed further and what would have to happen to pursue that avenue.

City manager Jim Toye said they are at the beginning stages of putting together a report, considering he only received the go ahead from council on Monday.

According to Toye the plan moving forward is to check Provincial Legislation, The Cities Act, Highway Traffic Act and current bylaws to come forward with a well-researched report.

“That would [provide] options for city council regarding here’s what we found in our research, here’s some options of how we might proceed and here’s what a recommendation would be and then city council would decide what the direction would be,” he said.

Toye said city council won’t resume until the new year, so finalization could take until early Spring.

So far no decisions have been made.

sstone@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahstone84