What does Maryland's Move Over Law Mean for Motorists?

The move over law requires motorists to shift their cars over to another lane and allow law enforcement a way through. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), each state has slightly different protocols with respect to what motorists are required to do.

Maryland's Move Over Law 

Maryland now requires motorists who are traveling in the same general direction as a stopped emergency vehicle to change lanes. The law stipulates that a stopped emergency vehicle should be flashing its lights, and a stopped emergency vehicle could even be a tow truck. Motorists are required to change to a driving lane that is not immediately adjacent to the lane in which the stopped emergency vehicle is parked.

Changes to Maryland's move over law are effective as of the beginning of October, 2014. After that date motorists will be required by law to change to a non-adjacent lane vis-a-vis any emergency vehicle (e.g., tow trucks or police cars) or slow down their vehicles to a safer speed in response to dangerous road and/or weather conditions.

Move Over, America 

According to the National Safety Commission's "Move Over, America" initiative to protect police officers, Maryland's move over law was first implemented in 2010 and designed to protect law enforcement. Maryland's House Bill 499 requires motorists to yield the right of way to a police vehicle using an audible signal (i.e., police siren).

Maryland law also stipulates that on the "immediate approach" of an emergency vehicle that's using visual or audible signals, motorists also should yield the right of way by moving over and changing lanes.

Emergency Vehicle Approaching You 

So, what happens if the emergency vehicle or police vehicle is approaching your car or truck? Maryland law requires that if an emergency vehicle using audible and visual signals, or a police vehicle using an audible signal, approaches your vehicle you should stop and remain in the stopped position until the emergency vehicle or police vehicle has safely passed your vehicle.

Maryland law also says that motorists are not allowed to pass an emergency or police vehicle when they're going in the same direction as an emergency or police vehicle that is giving off visual signals (e.g., police lights) and audible signals (e.g., police siren). You can only pass in the above scenario if the police officer directs you to do.

Governor O'Malley from Maryland signed the current move over law into effect on October of 2010. The new approach to the law stretches the definition of emergency vehicle to include tow trucks and fire trucks along with police vehicles and ambulances. Motorists should look for clear visual and audible signals and allow the emergency vehicle the right of way if those signals are present.

Intent Behind Maryland's Move Over Law

Tow trucks are a new addition due to cases of AAA truck operators getting hit while assisting motorists of broken-down vehicles. Many tow truck operators and police officers are happy with the addition since both have been rear ended before while making stops in Maryland. That said, the move over law has continued to protect police officers since its signing into law in late 2010.

If you see an emergency vehicle pulled over on the side of a Maryland highway, you should move over to a non-adjacent driving lane or, in instances where that's not possible, slow down to a safe speed. According to Maryland law enforcement, a whopping 2,600 motorists were cited in just two months in late 2013.