Go Back   Shreveport.com > Shreveport.com Headline News > Local News

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-03-2008, 04:02 PM   #1
sbl_admin
Administrator
 
sbl_admin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Shreveport, LA
Posts: 1,965
Rep Power: 259 sbl_admin has disabled reputation
Send a message via AIM to sbl_admin
Post Move Over Law Means You

Dear Editor:

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission has received reports from law
enforcement officers in the field that many drivers are apparently unaware
of actions they must take when passing an emergency vehicle that is stopped
on the side of a road with lights flashing.

Louisiana law requires drivers approaching such a situation on an
interstate or other multi-lane highway to slow down and safely merge into
the lane farthest from where the emergency vehicle is parked. In the case
of a two-lane road, the driver must slow down to 25 miles per hour or to
the posted speed limit, whichever is lowest. In both cases, the driver can
proceed to the posted speed limit as soon as it is safe to do so.

Often referred to as the “Move Over Law,” most states have enacted such
requirements to protect officers and other emergency responders. The
Louisiana law applies to all emergency vehicles on the side of a road with
lights flashing.

Traffic-related incidents kill more law enforcement officers in the
line of duty than any other single cause. A national study found that
nearly half of officers killed in 2004 died as a result of traffic-related
incidents. In Louisiana, the only State Police trooper killed in the line
of duty in the past 10 years died when struck from behind by a vehicle.
Troop A in Baton Rouge has had four Troopers struck in the past two years.
Two have permanent disabilities.


Whether the law enforcement officer you see on the side of the road
is writing a citation or assisting a motorist, his or her job is dangerous
enough without having cars and trucks whizzing by a few feet away at 70
miles per hour. Please remember: Slow down when you approach such a
situation, and safely merge into a lane away from the officer, if there is
another lane going in your direction.


Respectfully,
Name:  sig.jpg
Views: 60
Size:  2.5 KB
Col. James E. Champagne
Executive Director
Governor's Highway Safety Representative

sbl_admin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2008, 06:32 PM   #2
joepole
SBLive! Veteran
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,606
Rep Power: 258 joepole has much to be proud of joepole has much to be proud of joepole has much to be proud of joepole has much to be proud of joepole has much to be proud of joepole has much to be proud of joepole has much to be proud of joepole has much to be proud of joepole has much to be proud of
I knew that was the law in Texas, but i didn't know it was here.

25MPH? That's ridiculous.
joepole is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2008, 07:00 PM   #3
vixweb
Advanced Member
 
vixweb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Age: 53
Posts: 291
Rep Power: 219 vixweb has much to be proud of vixweb has much to be proud of vixweb has much to be proud of vixweb has much to be proud of vixweb has much to be proud of vixweb has much to be proud of vixweb has much to be proud of vixweb has much to be proud of
And thats just the cops- what about the towtruck drivers?! Every week in this country, people in my line of work are KILLED by "looky lous"
Seriously, I am on the side of the road all day and all night- People FLY past me @ 70mph just feet away! One of the first things I learned while training for this job is to keep one hand on the truck @ all times while roadside, that way, if I trip or stumble on a rock or road debris, I can try not to fall into traffic. One little stumble and I would die(and doing this 70-80 hours a week-its gonna happen)- just because someone wouldn't get over or SLOW DOWN!! BELIEVE ME- we need this law, because people are too "self-absorbed" to get over.
__________________
RESPECT - WISDOM - HONOR - TRUTH - LOVE - PEACE - BALANCE
vixweb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2008, 08:32 PM   #4
rhertz
SBLive! Veteran
 
rhertz's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,834
Rep Power: 293 rhertz has a brilliant future rhertz has a brilliant future rhertz has a brilliant future rhertz has a brilliant future rhertz has a brilliant future rhertz has a brilliant future rhertz has a brilliant future rhertz has a brilliant future rhertz has a brilliant future rhertz has a brilliant future rhertz has a brilliant future
Quote:
Originally Posted by vixweb View Post
And thats just the cops- what about the towtruck drivers?! Every week in this country, people in my line of work are KILLED by "looky lous"
Seriously, I am on the side of the road all day and all night- People FLY past me @ 70mph just feet away! One of the first things I learned while training for this job is to keep one hand on the truck @ all times while roadside, that way, if I trip or stumble on a rock or road debris, I can try not to fall into traffic. One little stumble and I would die(and doing this 70-80 hours a week-its gonna happen)- just because someone wouldn't get over or SLOW DOWN!! BELIEVE ME- we need this law, because people are too "self-absorbed" to get over.
Please be careful out there Vix!! A drunk driver can do anything. (I watch a lot of TV) Stay on your toes!!
rhertz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2008, 09:38 PM   #5
piemaker720
SBLive! Veteran
 
piemaker720's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,584
Rep Power: 248 piemaker720 is a splendid one to behold piemaker720 is a splendid one to behold piemaker720 is a splendid one to behold piemaker720 is a splendid one to behold piemaker720 is a splendid one to behold piemaker720 is a splendid one to behold piemaker720 is a splendid one to behold
People don't care about flashing lights on an emergency vechicle or a tow truck. How many times have you seen a road construction sign that says lane closed ahead merge ?[right or left] and people will stay in the closed lane until they get right up to it then cut in front of a vehicle that done what they were suppose to back down the road where the sign is. Another is the intersection of I-20 and Airline, people come off I-20 and block the intersection until traffic starts moving. We have some maniacs out on the highway these days.
__________________
A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.-- Bill Cosby
piemaker720 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2008, 07:10 AM   #6
vixweb
Advanced Member
 
vixweb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Age: 53
Posts: 291
Rep Power: 219 vixweb has much to be proud of vixweb has much to be proud of vixweb has much to be proud of vixweb has much to be proud of vixweb has much to be proud of vixweb has much to be proud of vixweb has much to be proud of vixweb has much to be proud of
Pie, you know the only reason people do those things, are so they can be in front of YOU! Instead of merging, thier goal is simply to be further up in line, so they CUT,like Kindergardeners. From the view in my wrecker, I'm a spectator. And I laugh at people all day!
__________________
RESPECT - WISDOM - HONOR - TRUTH - LOVE - PEACE - BALANCE
vixweb is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:11 PM.


Design By: Miner Skinz.com
Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Limited.
2008 Shreveport.com