Tow operator optimistic government will extend move-over law to protect industry

A New Brunswick tow truck operator is optimistic the province will implement changes to its move-over lawrecommended last year that could help protect the industry.

Andrew Aker, co-owner of Capital Towing in Hanwell,saiddiscussions with the previous Liberal government resulted in recommendations to update the Motor Vehicle Act.

He hopes the Progressive Conservative government that took power in Novemberwill act on those recommendations.

"We're hoping to nudge the government along a little bit to see whether they're going to follow up on what was done during the Liberal tenure," said Aker. "I think there's reason for optimism."

The "move-over" provisions ofthe Motor Vehicle Act enacted in 2013requiredrivers to slow down and moveto the left whenfire trucks, ambulances and police vehicles are stopped with their emergencylights activated. Tow trucks aren't covered by the law.

Aker said a tow truck driver was injured in acrash on the Trans-Canada Highway in Monctonon Tuesday a reminder of the dangers of working on the side of highways as vehicles zoom past.

"I think if we just relax and say we gotlucky (Tuesday) and we don'tlook to make changes or accept suggestions on how we can improve the situation, we've lost an opportunity," Aker said.

LastMarch, PCMLAsErnieSteevesand CarlUrquhartintroduced a motioncalling on the Liberal government to add tow trucks,carry out an education campaign on the law and add roadside signs.

"We areasking for it to happen for sure so that people know that they have to move over,"Steevessaidin thelegislature March 15. "It is a small ask. It is a cheap ask, and weare asking that the government please respond in a positive way to this motion."

It passed with Liberal support for improved education. Because it was only a motionand not a bill, the law didn't change.

Urquhartis now theprovince's public safety minister andSteevesfinance minister.

Province reviewing law

CBC requested an interview with Steeves and Urquhart on Wednesday. No interviewswere provided.

Alexandra Davis, a spokesperson for the public safety department, said in anemailedstatement the province is reviewing move-over provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act. Davis said it is also looking at the rules in other provinces.

Tow trucks were added to move-over rules in Nova Scotia andPrince Edward Island last year.Newfoundland and Labrador,Ontario, Manitoba are among other provinces with similar rules, according tothe Canadian Automobile Association.

In Nova Scotia, the law is broader than in New Brunswick.

It coverspublic safety officers, tow truck operators, emergency personnel, conservation officers and motor vehicle inspectors. It also requires drivers to slow down to at least 60 km/h for vehicles pulled over with emergency lights activated.

Aker said a weakness of New Brunswick's law is that it doesn't specify a speed for drivers who arepassing emergency vehicles.

Nova Scotia'schanges followedthe death ofFrancisDeschnes.The Amherst-based Mountie was killed when he was hit by a cargo van onSept. 12, 2017 on the Trans-Canada Highway south of Moncton. He washelping a motorist change a flat tire.

The Mountieworked for a traffic unit and had promoted move-over laws in New Brunswick andNova Scotia. Originally from northern New Brunswick, he was in the processof being transferred toCodiacRCMPinMoncton.

Deschnes widow,SavannahDeschnes, went to Nova Scotia's legislature to support move-over changes and has also lobbied for changes in New Brunswick.

Steevessaid last yearhe introduced the motion in the New Brunswick legislatureafter being contacted bySavannahDeschnes.

She still hopes the province will implement the change.

"I think thegovernment needs to promote, promote, promote such as put signs up, do mail outs and put this in the young drivers handbook/testing,"SavannahDeschnessaid in aFacebookmessage Wednesday."This would be a start."