Move over!

[lumberjim]

http://www.moveoveramerica.com/

Move Over, America
More than 150 U.S. law enforcement officers have been killed since 1999 after being struck by vehicles along America's highways, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. To lower that deadly toll, a new coalition of traffic safety and law enforcement groups is launching a nationwide public awareness campaign to protect emergency personnel along our nation's roadsides.

"Move Over, America" is a partnership originally founded in 2007 by the National Safety Commission, the National Sheriffs' Association and the National Association of Police Organizations. Most recently, the partnership has also received the full support of the American Association of State Troopers. The campaign is the first nationally coordinated effort to educate Americans about "Move Over" laws and how they help protect the law enforcement officers who risk their lives protecting the public.

According to a national poll by Mason Dixon Polling & Research, sponsored by the National Safety Commission:

• 71 percent of Americans have not heard of “Move Over” laws;
• 86 percent support enacting “Move Over” laws in all 50 states; and
• 90 percent believe traffic stops and roadside emergencies are dangerous for law enforcement and first responders.

I didn't know it was a law....but I always do get over if possible. Apparently the fine is quite steep in NJ at $500....but only $85 in Pa....

[glatt]

I didn't know it was a law either. Sometimes, you can't move over. What are you supposed to do, come to a stop if you can't move over?

[glatt]

Fuck, I just looked up Virginia, and it's a class 1 misdemeanor here which means you can get a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

[lumberjim]

Originally Posted by glatt

I didn't know it was a law either. Sometimes, you can't move over. What are you supposed to do, come to a stop if you can't move over?

slow down by 20MPH

[TheMercenary]

We have that law here in GA. I think they enacted it about 2 years ago. At first they were setting up stings where they would have a car on the side with it's lights on and another car flagging people down and giving out tickets. They gave out about 30 tickets in a day until the public outcry stopped them since the law had just been enacted. The judge threw out all the cases but everyone got a warning. Now almost everyone pulls over or slows to a near crawl when there is a cop on the side of the road. I guess it is a good thing overall.

[Cloud]

Someone (a civilian) was just killed on our freeway this morning after getting out of her car to stop and render aid.

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

At first they were setting up stings where they would have a car on the side with it's lights on and another car flagging people down and giving out tickets. They gave out about 30 tickets in a day until the public outcry stopped them since the law had just been enacted.

Around here, they set up stings for a month or two, but were deliberately only giving out warnings in the first place--they told everyone who got a warning to tell their friends about the new law.

[Juniper]

Yup, they got me about a year ago. Fortunately I got to take a class at the PD and had everything dismissed. I didn't know anything about it!

[tw]

Originally Posted by glatt

Sometimes, you can't move over. What are you supposed to do, ...?

The source says, slow down at least 20 MPH below posted speed.

Even moving to the far side of your lane is important for so many reasons. For example, that tailgater cannot see the danger because he is too close. Moving makes it easier for him to see he is about to kill someone.

Signaling a lane change even if not changing lanes (and long before approaching the stopped vehicle) is what you should be doing to inform the five cars behind you. And to force cars in left lanes to move more leftmost - first in fear and second that gives you more maneuvering room.

What vehicles are the most irresponsible? From bike riding, the vehicles that most often move more left are cars and 18 wheel trucks. Largest SUVs are the worst and most aggressive offenders. So consistently that an SUV that does move over is noteworthy.

[lumberjim]

now you're a cyclist camel jockey??!

goddammit.

[Cloud]

I'm confused about the left/right thing (as always). The video says you are supposed to move away from the emergency vehicle. So, if they are on the left (next to the median), you're supposed to move right. Right?

Also, it only applies to police (fire, ambulance)?

The accident today involved two cars near the median, and a third car who stopped to help (and this person was killed).

[glatt]

I found the text of the Virginia law and it says you should move over "if reasonable" and only if you can do it safely, and if you can't move over, you should "proceed with due caution and maintain a safe speed for highway conditions."

The words "proceed" and "maintain" are not legally defined, as far as I know, but to me they don't mean slow down. They mean continue at the same speed.

It's interesting to me, because the penalty is higher than most other states. (1 year in jail and $2500) but the wording is very weak. Almost as if their intention was to raise awareness without actually convicting anyone.

[xoxoxoBruce]

If an accident does happen, that VA law would insure they could prosecute for something, rather than the person just walking away.

[piercehawkeye45]

Makes sense. It seems many ambiguous laws are written just so the police can prosecute something if they feel necessary. Unless you get a cop with a stick up his ass, common sense should be the correct decision. If a police officer is standing on the drivers side of a car pulled over to the right, then it is probably more conservative to slow down, especially if the shoulder is narrow. If the police officer is on the passenger side or standing off to the side, then maintaining speed might be safer because of the possible gawker (sp) behind you.

[Pete Zicato]

Originally Posted by lumberjim

now you're a cyclist camel jockey??!

goddammit.

What? You got a problem with bicycles?