Local residents and first responders in St. Thomas, Ontario, are calling for more caution on the road after several recent preventable crashes on Highway 401. A community discussion on February 15, 2026, focused on the importance of moving over for emergency vehicles to protect roadside workers and prevent further accidents.
Under the provincial Highway Traffic Act, motorists must slow down and change lanes when approaching an emergency vehicle or tow truck with its flashing lights on. As explained by Thinkinsure and Ontario Traffic Tickets, this move over law is meant to give space to responders who are helping people at the scene of a crash.
Failing to move over can lead to a fine between $400 and $2,000 for a first offence. According to X-Cops and Surex, drivers will also receive three demerit points on their licence if they are caught ignoring these safety rules.
The push for safety follows a massive 50-vehicle pileup on the highway on January 27, 2026, and a crash on February 9, 2026, that injured a 61-year-old man. These events, along with a fatal crash in December 2025 in nearby Dutton-Dunwich, have led the Ontario Provincial Police to remind drivers that many collisions on the highway are preventable.
