More than 100 drivers pulled over for speeding past ‘staged’ tow truck: RCMP

A driver was ticketed and had their car impounded for speeding at 143 km/h past a tow truck with its lights flashing near Kelowna Tuesday morning.

A second driver was ticketed for excessive speed and 127 vehicles were pulled over by RCMP and issued “educational tools” during a two-hour exercise with a “staged” tow truck beside Highway 97 and Duck (Ellison) Lake.

“On Tuesday morning I witnessed a staggering number of drivers failing to follow the slow down and move over law,” RCMP Sgt. Mark Booth said in a news release. “Drivers need to be reminded when they are approaching and passing emergency/work vehicles which have their flashing lights engaged, they must reduce their speeds appropriately.”

In B.C. drivers are required to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles displaying flashing red, blue or yellow lights or face $173 fines.

They are required to slow to 70 km/h when the speed limit is 80km/h or more. If the speed limit is less than 80 km/h, they have to slow to 40 km/h.

The law covers maintenance workers, utility workers, police, fire, ambulance, tow trucks, Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement personnel, land surveyors, animal control workers, garbage collectors and other roadside workers who have their lights flashing.

Tuesday's effort was part of a Slow Down Move Over Awareness Campaign”in conjunction with BCAA.

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