Slow down, move over for emergency vehicles: police, fire, EMS

Edmonton's first responders are reminding drivers to move over when they see emergency vehicles on the road.

While Edmonton has exceeded its yearly fatal collision average with four and a half months left of 2025, emergency services are asking drivers to take it slow when passing ambulances, fire trucks and police cruisers.

“We’ve had a summer of close calls,” said Insp. Brad Mandrusiak with the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) Traffic Services Branch. “So now more than ever, it’s important to remind everyone how to properly respond to emergency vehicles travelling to a call as well as those parked roadside with their emergency lights engaged.”

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At a press conference on Thursday, Mandrusiak said responders are often working within inches of active traffic on busy roadways throughout the city.

“We’ve had officers clipped, tow operators nearly struck, and countless close calls that never make the news,” said Mandrusiak, adding that EPS cruisers have been hit by civilian vehicles 42 times so far this year.

“There are many factors at play here, but we can say that speeding, driving and general lack of attention behind the wheel are often contributing factors.”

Mandrusiak said an officer was sent to hospital last week after getting hit by a civilian vehicle while parked in a marked cruiser with emergency lights flashing.

“Given the speed and type of vehicle involved, we’re very fortunate that one of our officers wasn’t seriously injured or killed,” said the inspector.

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) experienced a similar incident on Anthony Henday Drive where crews were responding to a crash when a vehicle hit a ladder truck at 100 kilometres an hour. No one was injured.

Acting deputy chief Jamie Amiel said when EFRS asked the driver what happened, they said they didn’t see the fire truck.

“I find this hard to believe. It’s a 50-foot truck, it’s bright red, it’s got flashing lights, there’s broad daylight,” said Amiel at the news conference.

Kaylee Pfeifer, a paramedic and acting public education officer with Alberta Health Services said these close calls are often preventable.

“We need you to look, pay attention while driving, looking and watching for emergency lights and listening for our sirens,” said Pfeifer. “By being aware, you will give yourself more time to make a calm, smooth decision.”

EPS, EFRS, EMS and AMA are hoping drivers can remember three steps when they see an emergency vehicle on the road:

Look

Always be aware of other roadway users, looking in all directions including behind you to see where an emergency vehicle is approaching from.

Move

Signal your intentions and move to the right to make room for the emergency vehicle to pass.

Stop

Stop – not in an intersection – and make sure all emergency vehicles have passed. Signal to merge back into traffic when it is safe to do so.

“These small, but confident actions can help us help others as quickly as possible,” said Amiel.

Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act requires drivers to slow down to 60 kilometres per hour or less on the highway when passing an emergency services vehicle or tow truck.

Police are advising Edmontonians to be extra cautious on inner-city high-speed roads like the Henday, Yellowhead Trail, Whitemud Drive and the QE II.

While the province largely ditched photo radar last year, Mandrusiak said it’s too early to tell if the policy change has had an impact on the number of crashes.

“But I can say that speeding in general is up to a concerning level,” he said.