The BC Highway Patrol is reminding drivers to slow down and give plenty of room when they see workers or first responders on the side of the road with their emergency lights activated. (Image Credit: File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

Slow down move over

‘Critical to keeping them safe:’ mid-Island drivers reminded to slow down and move over

Mar 30, 2026 | 4:12 PM

NANAIMO — The BC Highway Patrol is dedicating the month of April to remind drivers to slow down and move over whenever they see flashing lights on the side of the road.

This includes the flashing red and blue lights of ambulances and police vehicles, as well as the usual amber lights related to construction and road work.

Cpl. Michael McLaughlin said the focus is to make sure anyone who works on the side of any roadway in B.C. comes home safely at the end of the day.

“This is particularly important on Vancouver Island. A lot of our highways are narrower, there aren’t as many lanes of travel, so slowing down and giving a little more room to those workers is really critical to keeping them safe, and that’s the goal of this campaign.”

The law covers various construction, utility, and maintenance vehicles, as well as tow trucks, with several mid-Island tow truck operators injured due to passing motorists not paying attention in the last few years.

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McLaughlin said they encourage drivers to use the “70/40 rule” as an easy way to remember when there are flashing lights on the road ahead of you.

“At highway speeds, so over 80 (kilometres per hour), you’re going to slow down to 70 or less as you move into that farther travel lane. And at municipal speeds (50), you’re going to slow down to 40 kilometres an hour or less. It keeps us safer, and we really appreciate it.”

He reminds motorists it’s the law to slow down and give them room to do their job, with a $173 fine coming their way if caught not slowing down.

“We have made some progress in making conditions safer for roadside workers, but we still need to do much better,” said McLaughlin.

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