The safety corridor rule in Québec: what do you have to do?

A rule that protects police, paramedics, firefighters, tow operators and road workers stopped on the road.

Short answer: when an emergency vehicle, a tow truck or a vehicle showing a lit yellow arrow is stopped with its lights flashing, first slow down, then move over a lane so there is an empty lane between you and it, if that is safe. If you only have one lane in your direction, move as far away as you can without leaving your lane.

Which vehicles are covered?

Emergency vehicles with flashing or rotating lights on: police vehicles, ambulances, fire-service vehicles and other vehicles recognized by the SAAQ (Code de la sécurité routière [Highway Safety Code], ss. 4 and 406.1). The SAAQ handbook also lists Contrôle routier Québec vehicles.
Tow trucks with their lights on (s. 406.1).
Any vehicle showing a lit yellow arrow telling drivers to change lanes, such as work-zone escort vehicles (s. 406.1, fourth paragraph; Guide de la route, ch. 4).

What to do in each situation

Where is the stopped vehicle?	What you must do
On the shoulder or in the next lane, and there is another lane in your direction	1. Slow down. 2. Move into the other lane to leave an empty lane, after checking it is safe.
On the shoulder, and you have only one lane in your direction	Slow down and move as far from the vehicle as you can while staying in your lane (toward the centre line, according to the handbook).
In your own lane	Slow down, stop if needed, then take another lane when it is safe. On a two-way road, first yield to oncoming traffic.
The vehicle shows a yellow arrow	Change lanes toward the side the arrow points to.

Sources: Code de la sécurité routière, s. 406.1; Guide de la route, ch. 4, “Corridor de sécurité”. Once you have passed the vehicles and workers, you can return to your lane.

Slow down by how much?

The law gives no number. It requires a speed that does not endanger the life or safety of people or property on the shoulder or in that lane (s. 406.1). In other words, slow enough to react if someone steps out of the vehicle or is standing on the road.

When the rule doesn’t apply

The duties for a vehicle on the shoulder or in the next lane don’t apply when you are travelling in the opposite direction to the lane where the vehicle is stopped (s. 406.1, third paragraph). Stay alert anyway.

Don’t mix it up

The safety corridor is about a stopped vehicle. When a moving emergency vehicle comes up with its signals on, the rule is different: you must yield to it (Code de la sécurité routière, s. 406). Each offence carries 4 demerit points (Règlement sur les points d’inaptitude, the demerit points regulation, schedule, items 21.1 and 21.2), plus a fine. For a learner or probationary driver, 4 points are enough to have the licence revoked.

Key points for the test

Order of actions: slow down first, then change lanes if it is safe.
Only one lane: move as far away as you can within it.
Yellow arrow: change lanes toward the side it shows.
4 demerit points.

Test yourself on this topic
Original questions with explanations and sources, “Highway Safety Code” section.
Practise for free

Official sources

Code de la sécurité routière (Highway Safety Code, CQLR c. C-24.2), s. 4 (definitions of “emergency vehicle” and “tow truck”), ss. 406 and 406.1
Règlement sur les points d’inaptitude (Regulation respecting demerit points, CQLR c. C-24.2, r. 37), schedule, items 21.1 and 21.2
SAAQ, Guide de la route (driver’s handbook, French 4th ed., 2024), ch. 4, “Corridor de sécurité”

General information page, current as of 2026-10-28. If in doubt, the official text prevails. Rules can change: check saaq.gouv.qc.ca and legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca.