Cars break down, hazardous materials spill, and car accidents occur, causing motorists to move over to the side of the highway. Typically, these events involve police officers, first responders, and tow truck drivers arriving on the scene. Because these workers have to perform service-related activities on the highway, they are put in danger.  

Sadly, many tow truck drivers, law enforcement workers, and emergency vehicle operators and responders have been seriously injured and killed as a result of drivers failing to move over. Although it shouldn’t take a fatal accident to remind motorists of the ‘Move Over’ law, that is often the case.

What Is Maryland’s ‘Move Over’ Law?

The law requires drivers to move over an extra lane to the left—if it is safe to do so—when approaching an emergency vehicle that is stopped or parked on or next to the highway with flashing lights. If traffic doesn’t permit for a safe lane change, drivers are required to slow down to a “reasonable and prudent speed” when approaching police vehicles, fire trucks, fire department vehicles, ambulances, tow trucks, state vehicles used for hazardous spill cleanups, and most any federal, state, and local government vehicle that is being used for an emergency.

The law was put in place to help protect the people who are protecting the public. Sadly, hundreds of tow truck drivers and police officers have been killed when stopped on the side of the highway to help motorists due to driver negligence. This is because the majority of Americans (7 out of 10 people) don’t know about these laws, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Please do your part and move over or slow down when approaching an emergency vehicle, and please help us spread the word by sharing this blog with those you know by clicking on one of your favorite social media icons to the left of the screen.

 

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