FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 15, 2014
QUEEN’S PARK – April 10 marked the 20th anniversary of the passage of legislation that provided volunteer firefighters the right to use flashing green lights when responding to a fire call.
“Talking to volunteer firefighters I hear many people still don’t make way for flashing green lights,” said Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett. “Firefighters only use green lights when responding to a call and it can literally be a matter of life and death how quickly they respond.”
Barrett’s fellow caucus member MPP Ted Arnott introduced a Private Member’s Bill that amended the Highway Traffic Act to allow firefighters responding to an emergency to use flashing green lights. The bill was passed into law 20 years ago on April 10. Arnott marked the occasion with a statement in the Legislature calling on the government to do more to raise public awareness of the meaning of flashing green lights.
“I agree with Mr. Arnott that increased public awareness of the role of flashing green lights is needed,” Barrett said. “Volunteer firefighters put their lives on the line – which I thank them for – and we need to also make sure they get to the station or the incident as safely as possible.”
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For more information contact
MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446