Every time law enforcement officers stop to help motorists, investigate a crash, or conduct a traffic stop, they are putting their lives at risk. To address the heightened danger involved in these roadside stops, every state has enacted “Move Over” laws, requiring motorists to change lanes and/or slow down when approaching stopped emergency vehicles. Between 2006-2017, on average, one law enforcement officer was killed during a traffic-related incident each week.
These laws can only save lives if:
- Drivers are aware of them,
- Drivers obey them, and
- Law enforcement officers enforce them.
Please join me in telling all the drivers in your family that moving over and giving space to emergency personnel isn’t just a courtesy — it’s the law, and it can save a life. Losing one more officer to a traffic-related incident isn’t an option. These are preventable tragedies.
Emergency personnel can only do so much to keep themselves safe when they pull over on the side of the road. The rest of the responsibility falls on those driving. So remember, next time you see those flashing lights on the side of the road, Move Over. It’s the Law.
The more people hear the message, the more they’ll understand. I’m asking for your help to spread the message. Think about the hundreds of law enforcement officers killed on our nation’s highways over the last decade. Let’s honor their memory and prevent any future, similar tragedies from happening.