Slow Down and Move Over took place Wednesday night at locations across Saskatchewan where emergency responders took to the side of the highway with lights flashing to raise awareness about the rules around passing working emergency vehicles on the road.

The event originated as a memorial for Courtney Schaefer, a tow truck driver, who was killed when he was hit by a semi while responding to a call near Esterhazy during a blizzard in March 2017.

Balgonie Fire Department, east of Regina, created an entire “scene” on Highway 1 between highways 10 and 46. They had all the normal lights, signage and pylons. Results over the course of 30 minutes: 13 semis slowed down out of 66; 23 cars and light trucks out of 65 in total slowed down and overall less than a third of vehicles slowed to 60 kilometres an hour to give first responders opportunity and safety to work.

It is the law to slow down to 60 kilometres an hour for fire, police, ambulance, tow truck drivers, tire trucks and an emergency responder with lights flashing working on the side of the road.

And in Saskatchewan on a double lane highway, even if you move into the left lane, you still need to slow to 60 kilometres per hour.