Ohio Troopers Are Cracking Down On This Offense This Week

CLEVELAND, OH — The Ohio State Highway Patrol have joined with law enforcement officials in five others states this week to crack down on drivers who aren't giving emergency vehicles enough space on the side of the road. Now through noon on Saturday, authorities will be patrolling for this offense.

In Ohio, the "Move Over, Slow Down" law requires drivers to move over one lane — or slow down if changing lanes is not possible — when passing any vehicle with flashing lights on the side of the road. This law includes police cruisers, ambulances, fire trucks, road service vehicles and other rescue vehicles.

Between 2011 and 2015 there were at least 67 crashes involving Ohio State Highway Patrol vehicles, all of which were on the side of the road. The Patrol released video of one of the crashes, from February 2015, that sees a an 18-wheeler smash into a cruiser on the side of a highway. One trooper has to dive over a guardrail to avoid being hit.

Penalties for violating the "Move Over, Slow Down" law vary based on the incident and an individual's driving record.

State police in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia are also enforcing statewide crackdowns.

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