Louisiana’s ‘Move Over’ Law Being Promoted For Safety

Governor Edwards, highway officials, and law enforcement agencies, are promoting the state’s Move Over law.

Having personally seen this law broken far too often, I think it’s important to get the word out to all motorists. Some people just might not know that it’s a law. Here’s what it consists of:

The law requires motorists to change lanes, if possible, when approaching emergency or police vehicles on the shoulder of a highway, or to at least slow down. The law is aimed at keeping emergency responders safe from injury. Violators can face a fine up to $200.

Traffic Incident Management Awareness Week begins with this reminder for drivers to obey this law.

Most people think that it won’t happen to them, but the numbers prove that it can happen to anyone at anytime. That’s why it’s important to remind motorists of this law.

Gov. Edwards uncle, a state trooper who was responding to an accident, was killed by a truck driver who did not slow down or move over. The governor says more than 150 law enforcement officers have been killed after being struck by vehicles since 1999.