The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) declares January as Move Over Month to remind drivers to Move Over, Florida! for emergency and service vehicles stopped alongside the roadway.
According to a press release published by the DHSMV, there are more than 100 crashes per year on Florida roadways that involve Move Over violations. In 2014 alone, there were at least 161 crashes from motorists failing to move over that resulted in 120 injuries.
Enacted in 2002, the Move Over Act was made to help protect law enforcement officers, emergency workers and others that often perform their duties along the side of the road. Florida state law requires vehicles to move over for emergency vehicles, utility service vehicles or wreckers.
In a multi-lane roadway, drivers must vacate the lane located closest to the stationary emergency vehicle, sanitation vehicle, utility service vehicle or wrecker and be sure to use their blinkers to indicate change of lanes. Drivers are also advised to reduce speeds to 20 mph below the speed limit if they cannot change lanes and be prepared to allow other vehicles to move over into the next lane.
In a two-lane roadway, drivers are advised to slow down to a speed of 20 mph below the posted speed limit and travel at five mph if the speed limit is 20 mph or below.
Moving over for an emergency vehicle is not only the safe thing to do, but it is also the law.
Those caught not following in compliance with the Move Over Act could be penalized with a fine and have points added to their license.