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July 29, 2010

Police urge drivers to move over

By Craig Crosby ccrosby@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

State Police are planning a push to get drivers to move over and slow down when passing stopped emergency vehicles.

The “move over” law requires motorists to give room to emergency vehicles in breakdown lanes. Drivers must move into the passing lane if possible or slow down when driving by vehicles with their emergency lights on.

“The law is aimed at giving police officers, firefighters, emergency workers and wrecker operators in the breakdown lane some space from passing motorists,” Department of Public Safety Spokesman Steve McCausland said in a release.

Passing drivers have hit 16 parked State Police cruisers since 2003, said Col. Patrick Fleming, chief of the Maine State Police.

“It makes no difference whether the emergency lights are blue, red or amber, passing motorists need to give those workers along the side of the road room to safely work,” Fleming said.

State Police will step up enforcement Friday along the Maine Turnpike in York. A team of troopers will monitor passing traffic during traffic stops. Additional enforcement efforts are planed in the coming weeks.

“Troopers will hand out an informational card and motorists will be reminded of the law from electronic message boards along the turnpike,” McCausland said.
 

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