Georgia Police Want Drivers to Move Over to Save Lives

If you were asked to guess what event claims the most lives of police personnel, what would you guess?  The right answer may not be immediately apparent: traffic crashes.  According to FBI statistics, more police employees are killed in the line of duty because of motor vehicle accidents than by anything else, including shootings.

The growing number of fatalities among police officers, emergency responders, and transportation workers has prompted at least thirty states to enact so-called “move over” laws.  These laws are aimed at protecting people who may be on the side of the highway to work on construction projects, make a routine traffic stop, or respond to an accident.

According to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, Georgia’s Move Over Law is intended to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities to police officers, paramedics, firefighters, tow truck operators and highway maintenance workers.

What does this law mean for you?  If you see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road with flashing lights you have to move over one lane.  If traffic is too heavy to move over safely, you must slow down below the posted speed limit and be prepared to stop if necessary.  Failure to move over or slow down as required by law could result in a $500 fine.

Labels: Georgia vehicle car accident motor vehicle crash police move over law