A campaign gets underway this Sunday.
Glen Burnie, Md. (KM) – An effort will be getting underway to get the word out about the State’s “Move Over” law. The Maryland Department of Transportation, and state and local law enforcement will informing citizens about what the law requires.
“We really need to move over when there’s an emergency vehicle, when there’s a tow truck, a utility truck or a department of public works vehicle on the side of the road. Give them the space they need to operate. And so as it’s safe to do so, move over to another lane, or another acceptable way of getting around them,”: says Chrissy Nizer, Maryland’s Motor Vehicle Administrator..
She says not a lot of Marylanders are familiar with the “Move Over” law, according to a recent Road Safety Behaviors and Attitudes study conducted on behalf of the Maryland Department of Transpiration’s Motor Vehicle Administration. “Forty-two percent of those surveyed chose all the correct answers, but they also chose vehicles not included in the law. So there’s a lot of confusion on this topic,” she says.
A campaign to remind motorists about the “Move Over” law will take place between Sunday, May 8th and Tuesday, May 17th. “You’ll see things on social media as well as some of our overhead boards. You’ll also see law enforcement out and they’ll be enforcing speed or not following the Move Over law,” says Nizer.
The “Move Over” law was went into affect in Maryland in 2014, and requires motorists to slow down for emergency vehicles, such as police cars, fire trucks and ambulances, along with tow trucks parked on the side of the road with their lights flashing, and move into another lane when safe to do so In 2019, the law was expanded to include service vehicles such as transportation, service and utility vehicles, as well as waste and recycling trucks when their lights are flashing.
A new “Move Over” law is expected to go into affect on October, 1st, 2022. It requires drivers to slow down when approaching the rear of any stopped vehicle, standing or parked vehicle displaying their hazard warning lights, road flares or other signals such as traffic cones, caution signs or non-vehicle warning lights. MDOT says the goal of this new law is to protect all road users.
By Kevin McManus
