How to Obey the Move-Over Law
The Move-Over Law consists in leaving a free space between a vehicle stopped on a public roadway and the road user to ensure the safety of workers who must perform interventions. Drivers who do not respect the Move-Over Law will be fined between $200 and $300 and receive 4 demerit points.
When to Apply the Move-Over Law
You must apply the Move-Over Law when a vehicle such as the one below is stopped and its yellow arrow light signal, flashing lights or rotating lights are activated:
- a police vehicle;
- an ambulance;
- a fire safety vehicle;
- a vehicle from Contrôle routier Québec;
- a wildlife protection vehicle;
- a tow truck;
- a surveillance vehicle.
How to Apply the Move-Over Law
To perform the move-over manoeuvre associated with the Move-Over Law, slow down and then move as far away from the stopped vehicle as possible after you are confident it is safe to do so. If necessary, stop your vehicle to avoid endangering the safety of others.
When the intervention takes place on the shoulder of the road
When a vehicle is stopped on the shoulder of the road and its flashing lights or yellow arrow light signal is activated:
- slow down;
- change lanes when you are sure it is safe to do so;
- if changing lanes is not possible, move as far away from the stopped vehicle as possible while remaining in the lane you are travelling in.
When driving on a road with one lane in each direction, you must stay in your lane and as far away as possible from the vehicle stopped on the shoulder.
When driving on a road with two lanes in each direction, you should change lanes if it is safe to do so.
In this example, changing lanes is not possible on a road with two lanes in each direction. You must stay in your lane and as far away as possible from the vehicle stopped on the shoulder.
When the intervention takes place on a traffic lane
When a vehicle is stopped in the lane you are travelling in and its flashing lights or yellow arrow light signal is activated:
- slow down;
- stop, if necessary, to give way to oncoming traffic;
- if possible, change lanes after you are assured that it is safe to do so.
In this example, you can take the opposite lane if it is free.
In this example, the vehicle is stopped in the lane you are travelling in. You can change lanes after you are sure it is safe.
When a vehicle is stopped in the lane adjacent to the one you are travelling in and its flashing lights or yellow arrow light signal is activated:
- slow down;
- move as far away from the stopped vehicle as possible while remaining in the lane you are travelling in.
In this example, the stopped vehicle is in the right lane of a road with two lanes in each direction, and you are in the adjacent lane. You must get as far away from the stopped vehicle as possible while staying in your lane.
Last update: December 15, 2021
