Reminder — Slow Down, Move Over

Every year, CAA responds to more than one million service calls in Ontario. While some Members need light service, such as a battery boost, the majority need CAA towing services. For the tow truck drivers who provide roadside assistance, their workplace is the side of the road — from unpaved country lanes to provincial highways — and their safety is paramount. This is underscored by the recent deaths of network tow providers who have been struck by passing cars. To help ensure operator safety, CAA South Central Ontario (SCO) successfully advocated for tow trucks to be added to the list of emergency vehicles protected under the provincial Slow Down, Move Over legislation. In 2015, efforts were rewarded when the Ontario law was amended to include tow trucks stopped on the side of the road with lights flashing.

Teresa Di Felice, assistant vice-president of government and community relations for CAA Club Group, notes the importance of that victory. “The purpose of the legislation is to save lives. Sometimes, we take safety in the workplace for granted. But when it comes to emergency roadside assistance, these events require a lot of skill, knowledge and care. Tow truck drivers know what they have to do, but the challenge becomes other motorists who don't obey the law.”

Di Felice says that Slow Down, Move Over legislation provides clear guidelines for motorists. “When you see a stopped tow truck with flashing amber lights, the first thing to do is slow down,” she points out. “Put on your signal, and when it’s safe to do so, move over.” A March 2026 survey commissioned by CAA South Central Ontario found that while four in five Ontario motorists have heard of Slow Down, Move Over legislation, just over half know that it includes tow trucks. “That’s the first issue,” notes Di Felice. “And second, people don’t know what they are supposed to do. They tend to move over versus slow down, and the law says you need to do both.”