January is Move Over month in Florida, United States.
Drivers are reminded to move over for emergency and service vehicles stopped along the roadway to help ensure that all law enforcement, first responders, service and utility workers and Road Rangers Arrive Alive in 2019.
“Troopers, first responders and utility workers put their lives on the line every day on our roadways,” said Colonel Gene S. Spaulding, Director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “Protect the men and women that answer the call for service in Florida and Move Over, so they can return home to their families.”
Preliminarily in 2018, there were 231 crashes and almost 17,000 citations issued for motorists failing to move over.
The Move Over law was added to section 316.126, Florida Statutes, in 2002. The statute requires motorists to move or yield right-of-way to emergency vehicles and in 2014, utility and sanitation vehicles were added to the Move Over Law.
To comply with Move Over law drivers must:
Multi-Lane Roadway:
- Vacate the lane closest to the stationary emergency vehicle, sanitation vehicle, utility service vehicle, Road Ranger or wrecker and always signal the intention to change lanes.
- Slow down to a speed of 20 mph below the posted speed limit if a driver cannot move over safely.
- Be prepared to allow those who are attempting to move over into the next lane.
Two-Lane Roadway:
- Slow down to a speed of 20 mph below the posted speed limit.
- Travel at 5 mph if the speed limit is 20 mph or less.
