GEORGIA'S MOVE OVER LAW SAVES LIVES
Georgia’s new Move-Over Law says drivers must move-over for emergency vehicles stopped on the side of the highway. The law is meant to keep officers AND traffic violators safe from crashes with passing cars.
The Move-Over Law was passed in the aftermath of growing numbers of police, emergency technicians and DOT workers being killed during routine traffic stops, crash responses and highway construction projects around the nation. Right now, more than thirty states have Move-Over Laws on the books, with fines that range as high as a thousand dollars or more in some jurisdictions. The Move-Over fine in Georgia is an “attention-getting” five-hundred-dollars.
However, failure to obey the Move-Over Law can lead to consequences far more serious than fines. According to FBI statistics, traffic crashes claim the lives of more police personnel than any other cause of death in the line of duty, including shootings. The FBI says last year, forty-nine officers died in crashes across the country. Thirteen of those law enforcement officers were struck and killed by passing vehicles while they worked outside their patrol cars.
“Georgia’s Move-Over Law was meant to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities to police officers, paramedics, firefighters, tow truck operators and highway maintenance workers,” said Director Bob Dallas of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. Reports show emergency vehicles of all types have been struck while parked beside Georgia highways, even while their emergency lights were flashing.
The Georgia Move-Over Law requires drivers to move-over one lane when possible if an emergency vehicle with flashing lights is parked on the shoulder of the highway. And if traffic is too heavy to move-over safely, the law requires drivers to slow down below the posted speed limit instead AND to be prepared to stop.
Move-Over-Law: Georgia Code, Title 40-6-16.
a.
The operator of a motor vehicle approaching a stationary authorized
emergency vehicle that is displaying flashing yellow, amber, white,
red, or blue lights shall approach the authorized emergency vehicle
with due caution and shall, absent any other direction by a peace officer,
proceed as follows:
1.
Make
a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the authorized emergency vehicle
if possible in the existing safety and traffic conditions; or
2. If a lane change under paragraph (1)
of this subsection would be impossible, prohibited by law, or unsafe,
reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed
for the existing road and traffic conditions, which speed shall be less
than the posted speed limit, and be prepared to stop.
b. The operator of a motor vehicle approaching
a stationary towing or recovery vehicle or a stationary highway maintenance
vehicle that is displaying flashing yellow, amber, or red lights shall
approach the vehicle with due caution and shall, absent any other direction
by a peace officer, proceed as follows:
1. Make a lane change into a lane not adjacent
to the towing, recovery, or highway maintenance vehicle if possible
in the existing safety and traffic conditions; or
2. If a lane change under paragraph (1)
of this subsection would be impossible, prohibited by law, or unsafe,
reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed
for the existing road and traffic conditions, which speed shall be less
than the posted speed limit, and be prepared to stop.
c . Violation of subsection (a) or (b)
of this Code section shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500.00.
On June 25th, 2009, DeKalb County will host a Move Over Law News Conference starting at 9:00 a.m. at the DeKalb County Public Safety Headquarters located at 1960 W. Exchange Place in Tucker. To view a dramatic clip from the DeKalb County Police on Move Over, click here.....
Photos from Conyers Move Over Law Campaign
GOHS Director Bob Dallas and GSP Public Information Officer Larry Schnall recently taped a thirty-minute radio interview with the Georgia News Network about the reasons behind passage and enforcement of Georgia’s Move Over Law. The interview hosted by GNN Affiliate Relations Director John Clark will be broadcast this weekend on 75 radio stations across the state. TO LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW, CLICK HERE......
ATLANTA NEWS ON THE NORCROSS MOVE OVER LAW PRESS CONFERENCE.....
REVISED MOVE OVER LAW PRESS RELEASES AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
GEORGIA’S “MOVE-OVER LAW” “SLOW DOWN. CHANGE LANES. SAVE LIVES”
GEORGIA’S “MOVE-OVER LAW” “SLOW DOWN. CHANGE LANES. SAVE LIVES”--LETTER TO THE EDITOR LONG
GEORGIA’S “MOVE-OVER LAW” “SLOW DOWN. CHANGE LANES. SAVE LIVES” --LETTER TO THE EDITOR SHORT
VIEW PHOTOS AND COMMENTARY FROM THE MOVE OVER LAW NEWS CONFERENCE NEAR TURNER FIELD IN ATLANTA HERE
TO VIEW THE PRESS RELEASE
ON THE MOVE OVER LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM, CLICK ON HTTP://WWW.GAHIGHWAYSAFETY.ORG/PRESSROOM.HTML
ATLANTA TELEVISION HAS RECENTLY BROADCAST SOME STORIES INVOLVING GEORGIA'S MOVE OVER LAW. CLICK ON EACH LINK TO VIEW EACH STORY: