Public Awareness:

• Voice Over Internet Protocol Information for Niagara Residents
   
• Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Emergency 9-1-1 Services
   
• Reacting to an approaching emergency vehicle
   
• Approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with red lights flashing
   
• Use of Flashing Green Lights by Volunteer Firefighters in Personal Vehicles
     

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Reacting to an approaching emergency vehicle

When you see the flashing lights or hear the bells or sirens of an emergency vehicle approaching from either direction, you must immediately slow down, move as far to the right side of the roadway as you safely can, and stop. Remember to use your signals and check your mirrors and over your shoulders for other traffic before pulling over and stopping.

Do not stop in an intersection. If you cannot safely pull over before you enter an intersection, drive through. Once you have cleared the intersection, signal, move as far to the right of the roadway as you safely can, and stop.

On freeways, do not stop on the shoulder. Emergency vehicles use the shoulder if all lanes on the expressway are blocked.

There may be more than one emergency vehicle responding to the same situation. Check to ensure your way is clear before merging back into traffic.

It is illegal to follow within 150 metres of an emergency vehicle responding to a call.

Never try to outrun an emergency vehicle. Failing to pull over and stop for an emergency vehicle can result in a fine and demerit points on your driving record.

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Approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with red lights flashing

When you see an emergency vehicle stopped with its red lights flashing in a lane or on the shoulder in your direction of travel, you must slow down and pass with caution. If the road has two or more lanes, you must move over into another lane to allow one lane clearance between your vehicle and the emergency vehicle, if it can be done safely. Failing to follow these rules can result in a conviction and a fine and demerit points on your driving record.

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Use of Flashing Green Lights by Volunteer Firefighters in Personal Vehicles

Welland is protected by both Volunteer and Career Firefighters. The Career Firefighters are on duty and respond to calls in emergency vehicles from their fire stations.

Volunteer Firefighters in the City of Welland respond to emergency calls in their personal vehicles and are provided with a green flashing light that is mounted on the dashboard of their vehicle. The purpose of the light is to help other drivers recognize a firefighter en-route to an emergency and be courteous and yield the right of way.  Firefighters may use the flashing green light on personally owned vehicles while proceeding to an emergency, including response to the fire station. The Highway Traffic Act does not permit a firefighter using a flashing green light in his personal vehicle while en-route to an emergency to proceed through stop signs or stop lights without stopping, drive aggressively, or drive in the on-coming lane of traffic.  The flashing green light does not provide any privileges or exemptions under the Highway Traffic Act.

Although it’s not law for you to yield to or pull over for a vehicle with a flashing green light, you may want to consider doing just that.  A vehicle with a flashing green light is responding to an emergency and by allowing the vehicle the right-of-way you may be contributing to a quicker response time to the scene.

By following the few simple rules noted above you can help improve the safety of our firefighters and yourself as we respond to emergencies in our community. Thank you!