Portage la Prairie RCMP reminds motorists to slow down when passing emergency vehicles, after a high volume of offences occurred last week.

Police say while patrolling on November 4th, nine tickets were issued to drivers who failed to reduce speed while passing emergency vehicles in just a two-hour period.

"That's a pretty high number for such a short period of time," says RCMP Community Liaison Officer Constable Sean O'Keefe. "Unfortunately, I think if our officers really dedicated to stopping drivers who are failing to slow down, they could probably make a full day of it."

Failing to reduce your speed while passing an emergency vehicle carries a $299.65 fine, O'Keefe explains. In zones where the posted speed is 80 km/h and lower, drivers are required to slow to 40 km/h. And in areas where the limit is 80 km/h and above, motorists must slow to 60 km/h when passing emergency vehicles.

"That law exists to make sure the area is safe to be in," O'Keefe says. "Accidents happen, but slowing your speed down goes a long way in determining life and death."

O'Keefe adds studies show increases in speeds in increments as little as 5 km/h up the severity of injuries in accidents -- a reason for drivers to slow down.

"Even though the weather is nice now, we are going to get into poor weather soon," warns O'Keefe. "And reducing your speed goes a long way to making sure roadways are safe."