Drivers should obey Florida’s Move Over law

The recent funeral of a Florida state trooper who was killed in a traffic accident on the interstate earlier this month is a somber reminder of the inherent risks that first responders face. It should also be a reminder to all drivers of their responsibility to protect those who keep Florida's roads safe. With more people hitting the road for the Fourth of July weekend, drivers should remember to follow state law and move over when for emergency or service vehicles.

Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. William T. Bishop was investigating a highway crash on June 17 along Interstate 75 near Gainesville when a car involved in a separate accident fatally struck him. Florida's Move Over Law requires drivers to vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle, or to lower their speed if they cannot safely switch lanes. While the driver in this case was traveling a lane over, an investigation is ongoing. Regardless of the specifics, the death of a 30-year veteran of the Florida Highway Patrol is a vital reminder of the importance of following this law.

The law also covers tow trucks and garbage trucks parked with their lights on. Those drivers face a heightened level of danger from constantly pulling over on roads. In November, a drunken driver fatally hit a tow truck driver in Tampa who was pulled over and helping a stranded motorist. Florida had 204 crashes in 2016 involving a Move Over violation, up 26 percent from 2015. Twenty-seven of those crashes were in the Tampa Bay region, resulting in eight injuries. Drivers should keep these tragedies in the back of their minds when thinking about the potential harm that vehicles can cause.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Beyond reflecting common sense and common courtesy, the law has been publicized through multiple public awareness campaigns. Police have issued nearly 40,000 citations in the last two years. Yet it is still an ongoing issue that first responders, sanitation workers and tow truck drivers have to constantly face. Going into one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, Floridians should remember that simple courtesy on the road — and following the law — can prevent a tragedy.

This story was originally published June 30, 2017 at 12:40 PM with the headline "Drivers should obey Florida’s Move Over law."