If you use an app to avoid traffic or to announce your highway exit, you may have received a different type of alert recently—one that can help save lives.

In 2023, CAA South Central Ontario partnered with HAAS Alert, a company that uses real-time data from vehicles to provide alerts to other drivers. The result of this partnership is a new kind of safety message reminding drivers to slow down and move over as they approach a stalled vehicle or a CAA rescue vehicle at the scene.

Here’s how it works. When a stranded Member calls the dispatch centre for help, it triggers the alert that’s sent to approaching cars. The alert is also pushed out to cars that are passing a CAA rescue vehicle that has stopped to help.

The alert is available via popular traffic apps, including Waze, Apple Maps and Stellantis navigation systems in many Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep vehicles, and is already proving to be effective. A 2024 CAA survey reports that 13 percent of Ontario drivers have received these alerts and, of those, 97 percent slowed down and moved over.

This important reminder not only protects stranded drivers, but also roadside responders. Across North America in the last decade, more than 100 tow truck drivers have been killed by oncoming traffic while helping stranded motorists with flat tires, breakdowns and collisions.

That’s why the Slow Down, Move Over law in Ontario requires drivers to slow down and, if it’s safe, move over one lane when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle, including tow trucks with flashing lights. This simple action can actually save lives.

Visit caasco.com/sdmo for more information on Slow Down, Move Over.

CAA conducted an online survey through DIG Insights of 1,516 Ontario drivers aged 18 to 75. Based on the sample size and with a confidence level of 95%, the margin of error for this research is +/- 2%.