I am writing this letter after hearing that our provincial government sees fit to wait another six months to "educate the public" on how to slow down when passing emergency vehicles.
What is more important, to educate a few idiots to slow down, or having men and women that are trying to do their job on the side of the road be safe while these few idiots go by at 120-plus kilometres an hour?
I have not been on the side of the highway as an emergency worker, but as a truck driver I have tried to work on my load while vehicles go by at highway speed. It is scary.
Who is the one that is going to show up at the door to tell someone that their loved one was hit and injured, or worse, killed while trying to do their job as an emergency worker by a driver who wasn't "educated" on how to slow down when going past a well-marked emergency vehicle?
To grant this additional six months is just asking for disaster.
I had considered suggesting issuing warning tickets for six months but have changed my mind. It is time to implement the law.
I personally was pulled over in Saskatchewan in 2015 because I went past a police car in the far left lane and after being pulled over, was informed that in Saskatchewan back then it was the law that you were to slow down to 60 kilometres an hour regardless of what lane you were travelling in. I was lucky and just received a warning.
Let's get with the times and do the right thing for those of us that need to be protected.
Don Fletch,
Olds
