South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog
When you see a police car with lights flashing by the roadside, you must move over a lane to offer them space to do their job safely. Under Florida’s Move Over Law, you must slow down to 20 miles per hour under the speed limit. For those who don’t, you run the risk of a serious car accident in Miami and elsewhere.
Since 1999, there have been over 170 officers killed and thousands more injured in the line of duty after being hit by a passing motor vehicle. Now, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and troopers from neighboring states are doing their part to help to protect them.
Our Miami car accident attorneys support the month-long campaign to enforce and educate drivers about the Move Over Law. We’re joining the effort, along with the Alabama Department of Public Safety, FHP and the Georgia State Patrol to help to promote the Move Over Law and help protect our law enforcement officials and roadside workers. The recent announcement of the joint efforts was made by Col. David Brierton of the FHP, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).
“All too often, a law enforcement officer, paramedic or wrecker operator is seriously injured or killed while they are doing their job because a vehicle drove too close,” said Brierton.
The campaign will be ongoing during the month of February. During this time, police officers throughout Georgia, Alabama and Florida will be hitting our interstates and other busy highways in full force in search of drivers who fail to move over to protect our roadside workers. Troopers and deputies will be looking for other traffic law violators, so be careful and drive smart.
July will mark the 10th anniversary since the Move Over Law took effect. Here are the basics of the law:
-Whenever you see an emergency vehicle or a wrecker parked on the side of the road with its flashing emergency lights activated, you’re required to get out of the lane of travel closest to that vehicle. You’re required to do this when you’re traveling on a road with two or more lanes of travel that are going in the same direction as you.
-If you can’t move over on a multi-lane roadway to make room for the emergency vehicle, slow down and travel at least 20 miles-per-hour under the posted speed limit.
-If you’re on a roadway where the posted speed limit is 20 miles per hour or slower, you’re required to slow down to 5 miles per hour.
Motorists who violate these rules are not only putting themselves and their passengers at risks. They also endanger our emergency workers and other innocent motorists. If an officer busts you for not properly moving over, you can be faced with a fine and points on your license.
If you or someone close to you has been injured in an accident in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Miami-Dade or the Port St. Lucie area, the South Florida personal injury attorneys at Freeman & Mallard are ready to fight for the compensation that you deserve. Call today to schedule a free and confidential review of your case, 1-800-529-2368.
More Blog Entries:
Fog, Smoke Can Trigger Car Accidents in Port St. Lucie, Elsewhere, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, February 6, 2012