These new signs will be posed along highways in Manitoba.Local emergency responders appreciate the provincial government's move to step up awareness of the law that requires drivers to slow down and move over when coming upon emergency vehicles with their lights flashing. The province this week announced it will place signs along highways to remind motorists of that responsibility.

Marty Rempel of Steinbach Towing says he and his staff have had a number of close calls and believes the constant reminder from these signs should help.

"It's a good thing. People definitely have to start realizing that. We're on the side of the highway here and we've had our mirrors clipped on the trucks. Drivers are always in a hurry and just seem not to want to pull over, so the signs might remind people that they have to do that."

Rempel recalls one specific incident where a driver hit his tow truck head on while he was connecting a vehicle to his tow truck. Fortunately, he was not hurt.

Steinbach Fire Chief Kel Toews says they too have had their share of close calls.

"We've had people actually struck by a vehicle causing minor injuries from glancing blows, but every fire department has got stories of close calls."

Toews says roadside signs will help with the education of motorists because they present a constant reminder to drivers.

"If they see it on their day-to-day drive, it reminds them. At an accident scene, sometimes, all the lights and all the action is a distraction and with the signs up, it reminds them on a day-to-day basis to slow down when you approach emergency vehicles and tow trucks."

The law says where the speed limit is 80 kilometres per hour or higher, you must slow down to 60 and where the speed limit is below 80, you must slow down to 40. The fine for violating this law is $298 plus two demerits.