RCMP reminding drivers to slow down and move over

September 12, 2022
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

News release

Today marks five-years since the tragic death of Constable Frank Deschênes. A 12-year RCMP member, and a member of the Nova Scotia RCMP's Northwest Traffic Services team, Constable Deschênes was assisting a driver on the side of the highway near Memramcook, New Brunswick, when he was struck and killed by a passing motorist.

Constable Deschênes is remembered by his family and colleagues as someone who was committed to helping his community. His brother, Patrick Deschênes, a New Brunswick RCMP Operational Communications Centre operator, shared his memories of his brother and why the move over law is important in protecting the safety of those who work on the side of the roads.

In honour of Constable Deschênes' memory, members with the Nova Scotia RCMP and New Brunswick RCMP will be out educating drivers in each province on the move over laws throughout the week. The move over laws are in place to help protect those who work on the side of the roads. The law requires drivers to slow down and move over when approaching emergency and service vehicles that are stopped on the roadside with emergency lights flashing. In:

  • New Brunswick: Drivers are required to slow down to a maximum of half of the posted speed limit, and move over to the left, if safe to do so. If there are two or more lanes of traffic, drivers must move into another lane, if it can be done safely.
  • Nova Scotia: Drivers are required to slow down to a maximum of 60 km/h, or to follow the posted speed limit if it's lower than 60 km/h, and move over to the left, if safe to do so. If there are two or more lanes of traffic, drivers must move into another lane, if it can be done safely.

By slowing down and moving over, a driver is creating a safe space for themselves and for the emergency responders and service vehicle operators to carry out their work while on the shoulder of the road, whether it is police doing a traffic stop, paramedics treating a person in medical distress or tow truck operator assisting a driver.

Our thoughts continue to be with Constable Deschênes' family, friends and colleagues.

Video - RCMP reminding drivers to slow down and move over

    RCMP reminding drivers to slow down and move over - Transcript

    (The video opens with Patrick Deschênes sitting in a room.)

    Patrick Deschênes: My name is Patrick Deschênes. I'm a 911 operator for the RCMP, and I'm also a volunteer firefighter with the Nashwaak Valley Fire Department. I've been a firefighter for 16 years now and also my brother was Constable Frances Deschnes

    (Screen fades to photo of Patrick and Frank Deschenes standing together in a field)

    (Screen fades back to Patrick Deschenes sitting in the room)

    Patrick Deschênes: My brother was a very dedicated RCMP officer.

    (Screen fades to four different photos of Frank Deschenes in RCMP uniform and with his family)

    Voice of Patrick Deschênes: He was always there to help people. And he was one of the best officers I know. He was always there for the family as well, for his wife and my parents. He was a generous person. He was always around when we needed him and yeah, he was a really great person.

    (Screen fades to black)

    (Screen fades back to Patrick Deschênes sitting in the room)

    Patrick Deschênes: My brother was actually on duty that day he was on the side of the road trying to help a motorist change a flat tire, and then he was hit by another vehicle that was coming through.

    (Screen fades to black)

    (Screen fades to Patrick Deschênes sitting in the room)

    Patrick Deschênes: That day we got the call, it was the worst call I ever got in my life. When I learned, my Dad actually called me telling me that my brother just passed away.

    (Screen fades to black)

    (Screen fades to Patrick Deschênes sitting in the room)

    Patrick Deschênes: Well the Move Over law is to ensure a safety zone between the person that are on scene actually working, trying to help someone else.

    (Video of RCMP Officer using a computer in the police vehicle)

    Voice of Patrick Deschênes: And that's that's probably the only thing that we don't control on the scene.

    (Video of marked RCMP vehicle stopped on the side of the road)

    Voice of Patrick Deschênes: It's what are motorists going to react when they get on scene.

    (Video of two un-marked RCMP vehicles on the side of a highway with lights flashing)

    Voice of Patrick Deschênes: It is scary because like you have no chance against a vehicle that is coming towards you.

    (Video of traffic heading towards camera, pick up truck doesn't move over)

    Voice of Patrick Deschênes: If they don't leave that safety zone there and they don't pay attention when they drive where there's an emergency scene, like if you get hit by a vehicle you no chance at all.

    (video of RCMP talking to a motorist at a roadside stop)

    (Screen fades to Patrick Deschênes sitting in the room)

    Patrick Deschênes: When you approach an emergency scene and you see flashing lights, please move over. But most importantly, slow down. Like that', that's the biggest thing right now. People will move over, but they don't slow down.

    (Screen fades to black)

    (Screen fades to Patrick Deschênes sitting in the room)

    Patrick Deschênes: Just make sure that nobody else, no other family has to go through what my family had to went through when the accident happened.

    (Screen fades to four different photos of Frank Deschênes with his parents and with his wife)

    (Screen fades to Patrick Deschênes sitting in the room)

    Patrick Deschênes: Please move over and please slow down.

    (Screen fades to black)

    Text on screen: In memory of Constable Francis Deschênes.

    (Screen fades to RCMP crest and signature: Royal Canadian Mounted Police / Gendarmerie royale du Canada)

    (RCMP copyright: © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, 2022)

    (Screen fades to Canada wordmark)

–30–

Contact information

Corporal Chris Marshall
Public Information Officer
Nova Scotia RCMP
rcmpns-grcne@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Corporal Hans Ouellette
Media Relations Officer
New Brunswick RCMP
506-452-4252

Date modified: