Blue light special

OPP News Release

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Now that winter has arrived, there seems to be some confusion regarding the use of blue flashing lights on snow removal equipment. Under the Highway Traffic Act, the only vehicles permitted to use a blue flashing light while operating on a roadway other than police vehicles, are road service vehicles that are performing winter maintenance activities. Road service vehicles are vehicles that are operated by, or on behalf of a municipality, or under contract to deliver winter maintenance operations on provincial highways, while removing snow, sanding or salting, or applying chemicals for snow and ice control on a roadway. Road service vehicles that are not performing winter maintenance activities are prohibited from using a blue flashing light while being driven on a roadway.

Bill 203, the Safer Roads for a Safer Ontario Act 2007, was passed on June 4th of this year and now permits police service vehicles to use blue flashing lights in combination with red flashing lights. This will help to increase visibility and public recognition of police vehicles, and to protect the safety of police officers while working on our roads. Bill 203 does not impact on the use of blue flashing lights on snow removal equipment.

Ontario Provincial Police remind local snowplow operators who use blue flashing lights on their vehicle when removing snow from private driveways and parking lots that they can continue to, provided they turn the blue lights off while traveling on a highway or municipal road. This includes when backing up onto a road, when turning around on a road, or traveling from one location to another.

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