Strict Enforcement for ‘Move-Over Law’
The law requires that all drivers must move at least one lane away from any emergency vehicle that is parked on the roadside while its emergency lights are on. The law states: On a two-lane roadway, you are required to slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit.
If the speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less, you must slow down to five miles per hour; if you are driving on an interstate or roadway with multiple lanes of travel in the same direction, and you approach an emergency or law enforcement vehicle parked along the roadway, you must vacate the lane closest to that vehicleas soon as it is safe to do so.
If you are not able to safely move over, you must slow down to a speed of 20 MPH below the posted speed limit unless directed otherwise by a law enforcement officer.
If you violate the Move Over Law, you are putting the law enforcement officer and yourself at danger. Failure to obey this law can result in substantial fine and points on your license. Since the year 2000, over 170 law enforcement officers that were stopped on the side of the roadway have been killed by passing vehicles.
As a Fort Lauderdale wrongful death attorney and a Ft. Lauderdale personal injury attorney, I have represented many police officers that were seriously injured due to the negligence and the fault of drivers ignoring the Mover Over Law. Please, take a moment to re-read the application of the law and make sure, the next time you see the emergency lights flashing from a patrol car on the side of the highway, you take the appropriate and lawful action to avoid a serious accident.
If you have been involved in a Fort Lauderdale area car accident, contact us immediately.
We will answer all of your questions, explain your rights and help you to achieve justice. Wolf and Pravato are based in Fort Lauderdale, but are here to help victims and their families from Miami to Ft. Myers.
