Crime & Safety
1 In 4 Adults Are Unfamiliar With Their State’s Move Over Law
California drivers can be fined up to $1,000 if they don't comply with the state's Move Over law.
Press release from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety:
Oct. 6, 2021
If you have ever been stranded on the side of the road with cars flying by at highway speeds, you understand the challenges roadside emergency workers face every day. But, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, most drivers who don't comply with Move Over laws don't realize how dangerous it is for individuals waiting or working at the side of the road.New data from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety provides the following perspectives on driver attitudes and ideas on Move Over laws:
Find out what's happening in Walnut Creekfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Of those who don’t comply with Move Over laws, 42 percent thought failure to move over was somewhat or not dangerous for roadside emergency workers.
- Almost a quarter of those surveyed (23 percent) are not aware of the Move Over law in the state in which they live.
- Among those aware of their state's Move Over laws, about 15 percent say they do not understand the potential consequences of breaking the law.
California drivers can be fined up to $1,000 plus points on their record if they do not move over or slow down while driving by any vehicle with flashing lights pulled to the side of a road or highway. "Many drivers may not realize how risky it is for those working or stranded along roads and highways close to moving traffic,” said Sergio Avila, spokesperson, AAA Northern California. “If you see something, anything, on the shoulder ahead, slow down and move over, every vehicle, every time.”To protect those working or stranded at the side of the road, AAA Northern California encourages drivers to:
- Stay alert, avoid distractions and concentrate on the task of driving.
- Watch for situations where emergency vehicles, tow trucks, public service vehicles, or disabled vehicles on the side of the road.
- Slow down and, if possible, keep one lane away from people and their vehicles stranded on the side of the road.
This press release was produced by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The views expressed here are the author's own.
