Key Road Safety Legislation Introduced

The province is introducing important legislation to improve road safety.

The first amendment to the Motor Vehicle Act will help protect emergency workers by placing specific requirements on drivers that are passing stopped emergency vehicles.

"For our emergency responders, the side of the road is often their workplace," said Bill Estabrooks, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. "This legislation will help keep emergency workers safe by restricting drivers' speed as they pass a stopped emergency vehicle."

The legislation will prohibit drivers from travelling on a highway at a speed greater than 60 kilometres per hour when passing an emergency vehicle. This legislation was originally introduced as a private members' bill in 2006.

The fines, including court costs, will range from $337 to $2,407 depending on the speed of the vehicle.

Many jurisdictions within Canada and the United States have enacted similar legislation. In addition to requiring motorists to slow down, this legislation will require drivers to move to an adjacent lane when approaching an emergency vehicle that is stopped on or near the highway with its flashing lights activated.

The province is also re-introducing legislation that will toughen the consequences for people caught driving with a blood-alcohol level of .05. This legislation was first introduced last fall.

Currently, people who blow .05 on a roadside alcohol screening test receive a 24-hour licence suspension. The amendment to the Motor Vehicle Act will increase the suspension time.

"Unfortunately, impaired driving is still a serious problem in Nova Scotia," said Mr. Estabrooks. "This measure supports our ongoing efforts and commitment to making our roads safer."

Licence suspensions will increase to seven days for a first suspension, 15 days for a second and 30 days for a third. People will also be required to pay a licence reinstatement fee of $89.63.

In 1998, the province introduced the 24-hour suspension for a .05 blood-alcohol level. Several other provinces have a suspension for a low blood-alcohol level, and Saskatchewan has recently increased the length of suspensions.