Pull over for Emergency Vehicles

From the City of Williams Lake:

Recent incidents involving emergency vehicles have prompted the Williams Lake Fire Department to remind residents to pull over when an emergency vehicle is approaching with lights and siren on.
“There have a number of occasions recently where emergency vehicles have been impeded on the way to respond to calls of fire and other emergencies,” says Williams Lake Fire Chief Randy Isfeld. “We want to remind drivers it’s not just the law to pull over, but that in an emergency, every second counts. Please allow all emergency responders – fire, police, ambulance, search and rescue - to get to where they are needed as quickly as possible.”

The British Columbia Motor Vehicle Act, Section 177, states: “On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle giving an audible signal by bell, siren or exhaust whistle, and showing a visible flashing red light, except when otherwise directed by a peace officer, a driver must yield the right of way, and immediately drive to a position parallel to and as close as possible to the nearest edge or curb of the roadway, clear of an intersection, and stop and remain in that position until the emergency vehicle has passed.”

Here’s how to help:

a) Signal, pull over to the nearest edge of the road on the approach of an emergency vehicle and stop . If at an intersection, move out of the intersection if it is safe to do so, and then stop at the edge of the road until the emergency vehicle has passed

b) Check for additional emergency vehicles before pulling back out onto the roadway . Use your rearview mirror(s) frequently to monitor for emergency vehicles approaching from the rear. You may see an emergency vehicle before you hear it. Be attentive to the flashing lights. It will give you more time to select a safe place to pull over

We can’t help if we can’t get there,” Chief Isfeld says. “The next life we try to save may be yours.”