Move Over Law Means You

[sbl_admin]

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,

Col. James E. Champagne
Executive Director
Governor's Highway Safety Representative

[joepole]

I knew that was the law in Texas, but i didn't know it was here.

25MPH? That's ridiculous.

[vixweb]

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.

[rhertz]

Originally Posted by vixweb

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!!

[piemaker720]

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.

[vixweb]

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!