Understanding the "Move Over Law"

Many states in the U.S. have enacted laws requiring motorists to “move over” upon their approach of an emergency vehicle that is stopped on or along the roadway.  Such laws are in place to protect public safety personnel, including police officers, firefighters and paramedics, from suffering injury or fatality resulting from being struck by passing motorists.  

Automobile accidents are among the leading causes of line-of-duty deaths for police officers in the United States.  One type of preventable collision involving police officers involves distracted and intoxicated drivers who travel too close to emergency vehicles that are stopped along the shoulder of a roadway. 

The attention of drivers is often diverted to police and fire vehicle vehicles stopped on or along the roadway with their emergency lights activated.  Average drivers typically misjudge the distance between their vehicles and the stopped emergency vehicle, which sometimes leads to serious collisions that injure police officers, firefighters and paramedics. 

“Move Over” laws throughout the United States are designed to modify the behavior of drivers by imposing fines and points to violators who do not slow down and move to another available traffic lane.  Public education and awareness are an important component of the legislation, which includes high visibility traffic signs posted on roads and highways and radio and television public information announcements informing viewers and listeners of the law and its penalties. 

Motorists who drive on highways and roads with two or more travel lanes in each direction should exercise caution when approaching an emergency vehicle that is stopped on or along the roadway.  Most “move over” laws only require drivers to change lanes when safe to do so or when no obstructions such as other vehicles prevent a safe lane change.  The law is most applicable to highways and multi-lane roads. 

If you are stopped by a police officer for violating a “’move over law”, understand that the enforcement and public education is extremely important for the safety and wellbeing of public safety personnel.  Police officers are often highly motivated to enforce such laws as they have a personal interest in public compliance.  As with any other traffic law in the United States, motorists who are charged with a driving offense are entitled to contest the charge in a court of law. 

The sharing of articles such as this among friends, family members and social groups is important to enhance the safety of our valued public safety personnel and to prevent those we care about from being ticketed for the violation of a move over law.