Local authorities say stiffer penalties for drivers who violate the state’s move-over law could make highways safer for everyone.
“The move-over law is important because it promotes officer safety,” said Bailey Police Chief Steve Boraski. “Numerous times, drivers are not paying attention to their surroundings and have injured or killed an officer in the performance of his duties.”
In effect since 2002, the move-over law requires motorists to move over one lane, or slow down if shifting lanes isn’t safely possible, whenever passing law enforcement and emergency vehicles with flashing lights. As of Dec. 1, a driver who fails to slow down or move over for a stopped emergency vehicle and causes serious injury or death is guilty of a Class I felony, which is punishable with hefty fines, driver license suspension and prison time.
Boraski said he hopes increased penalties will force drivers to pay closer attention as they approach emergency personnel on the roadsides.
Middlesex Police Chief Mike Collins said the move-over law is very important.
“It’s something that I believe people just aren’t cautious enough about,” Collins said. “In the real world, everybody would comply with the law. But people are always in a hurry.”
That rush could cost someone’s life, Collins said.
“It’s just not law enforcement either,” Collins said. “It’s DOT workers, tow trucks, EMS.”
Watching for stopped emergency vehicles is part of paying attention to the road.
“Some drivers are preoccupied inside their vehicles,” Collins said. “Texting, radio dials, eating and I’ve seen some people putting on makeup. These types of distractions may be the type of thing that can be disastrous, and it only takes a split second.”
Collins said he hopes the new penalties cause drivers to be more aware of their surroundings on the road and move over when they see flashing lights.
Nash County Emergency Services Director Brian Brantley said the move-over law has been a great help, but emergency workers need to be careful about getting complacent.
“The big danger now is getting relaxed,” Brantley said.
Bailey Fire Chief Chad Bissette said most drivers are only concerned with getting from point A to point B, and most likely are on their cellphones.
To protect themselves from distracted drivers, firefighters take extra precautions.
“We take up a lane of traffic on (U.S.) 264 to make drivers move over for our safety and also place a second fire engine approximately 100 feet behind the first engine to provide a safety barrier,” Bissette said. “This is in case a distracted driver moves into the lane we are working in. Hopefully the vehicle will strike the unoccupied fire engine before plowing into the personnel working the scene.”
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