From the Director: Move over!

If you are in a big crowd, you ask someone to “move over" to give you room. If the cat is in my chair, I ask him to “move over” so I can sit down. The phrase, “move over,” can mean different things.

At ADOT, it means one thing: safety.

“Move Over” has been a law for more than a decade in Arizona, but too many drivers aren’t following it and the consequences can be deadly. On Saturday, Oct. 19, transportation safety stakeholders across the country will participate in “Move Over” Day with the purpose to raise awareness about the law.

The “Move Over” law requires motorists to move over one lane to the left – or slow down if it isn’t safe to change lanes – when approaching any vehicle with flashing lights pulled to the shoulder of a road or highway. That includes police cruisers, fire trucks, ambulances, tow trucks, maintenance trucks and even passenger vehicles with hazard lights flashing.

“Move Over” matters because stranded motorists and responders need a safe place to work when they’re on the shoulder of our highways. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for responders to be hit and killed while doing their job helping people in need, or a person to be struck while inspecting their own disabled car or changing a flat tire. In fact, according to national crash statistics, traffic crashes are the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths for law enforcement in the U.S.

Safety is a priority at ADOT and our crews make themselves noticeable. But even wearing brightly-colored and reflective gear and following exacting safety practices to ensure proper traffic incident management doesn’t stop close calls from occurring.

Drivers, please, pay attention to the road ahead and “Move Over” when you see flashing lights.