Move Over. It’s the Law. Help Us Get the Word Out to All Drivers— Together We Can Save Lives Every day on our Nation’s roads, law enforcement officers put their lives at risk in order to help save lives and keep people safe. Since the beginning of 2014, there have been at least 26 traffic-related law enforcement officer fatalities in the United States—a 37-percent increase over the same six months from 2013. In 2013, there were 46 officers killed in traffic-related incidents the entire year. Traffic-related incidents are the leading cause of death for on-duty law enforcement officers. From 2003-2012, there were 1,540 officers killed in the line of duty, and a staggering 44 percent (672) of those fatalities were traffic-related. To respond to this tragic loss of life, every State has enacted “Move Over” laws, requiring motorists to change lanes and/or slow down when they approach emergency vehicles stopped on the side of the road. These laws are not new—the first “Move Over” law originated in South Carolina in 1996 after a paramedic at a crash scene was struck by a vehicle and killed. However, awareness of these life-saving laws is low; in a 2007 poll, 71 percent of Americans were unaware of “Move Over” laws. In 2012, Hawaii became the 50th and final State to enact a “Move Over” law. With every State on board, it’s time to get the public on board as well. While a certain element of risk comes with the duties of law enforcement officers, we can do our part to protect those who put themselves in harm’s way to make our Nation safer. That’s where you come in. NHTSA is reaching out to law enforcement and our State highway safety partners to help us increase awareness of “Move Over” laws. We believe that through public awareness, we can save lives in America. Remember to Move Over will save lives, so let’s remind all drivers to Move Over. It’s the Law.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 19:12:12 +0000
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