Flashing Green Lights

All Ontario drivers are familiar with the loud sirens and flashing red lights of emergency vehicles. Fire Trucks, Ambulances, and Police vehicles frequently utilize these to arrive at emergency scenes quickly and safely. You are required by law to pull off to the right side of the road and stop when you see or hear them coming. But what is the flashing green light?

Volunteer Firefighters have the Flashing Green Light.

In many rural areas across the country including Neebing, Fire Departments are staffed by a dedicated group of volunteers. These volunteers will often display a Flashing Green Light in their personal vehicles when responding to emergencies. This may be while responding to a nearby Fire Hall or to the emergency scene itself.

The Green Light does not give the firefighter any special privileges. It is used to help the public identify this vehicle as a member of a Volunteer Fire Department responding to a Fire, Rescue, or Medical call. Seeing the flashing green light allows drivers to give up their right-of-way to allow the firefighters to arrive at the scene in a timelier fashion.

The Ministry of Transportation made amendments to the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) allowing volunteer firefighters to use a Flashing Green Light in their personal vehicles while responding to emergencies.

The Ontario Highway Traffic Act states:

Sec. 62.(16) A firefighter, within the meaning of subsection 1 (1) of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997, may carry on or in his or her vehicle a lamp that produces intermittent flashes of green light and may operate the light if the motor vehicle is proceeding to a fire or other emergency. 1997, c. 4, s. 81.

Likewise, the Act has this to say about others using the Flashing Green Light:

Sec. 62.(16.1) No person other than a person described in subsection (16) shall operate a lamp that produces intermittent flashes of green light. 1994, c. 35, s. 1.

If you see a Flashing Green Light while out on our roads, know that it is a member of Neebing Emergency Services responding to a 911 call in your area. This call could be to your house, a loved one’s, or a neighbor's.