(A Radio Iowa report) – A special traffic enforcement effort starts today (Monday) across the state focusing on the states “Move Over” law. Tony Higgins with Central Iowa Traffic Safety Task Force says the law is a safety issue on busy highways. “When there’s an emergency vehicle on the side of the road, you are required by law to move over if that lane is clear away from the emergency vehicle. And if the lane is not clear, you’re to reduce speed slow enough so that you may stop suddenly if need be,” he says.
Higgins says the original law was modified to add other vehicles. “Tow trucks and construction vehicles, and now even your personal vehicle, if you have the hazard lights on and you’re in the side of the road, you are still required to move over into the next clear lane or slow down,” he says. There are a lot of videos online of officers in other states almost getting hit during traffic stops along the highway. “Luckily we haven’t had any officers killed in the state of Iowa, but we have had two tow truck drivers in the state of Iowa killed because of someone not moving over, ” Higgins says.
He says it’s all part of paying attention to your driving and not getting distracted. “What people need to do more of is we need to have our heads up, hands on the wheel, and looking up ahead. We were all taught in driver’s ed that we were to look one to three seconds ahead. And if we do that, we see those flashing lights,” he says. Higgins says you should think about what it would be like if you were stuck along the roadway.
“Being on the side of the road is very dangerous. And if you’re out trying to change your tire or you’ve got some damage, and you’re just out looking, there’s a very good chance that someone might strike you,” Higgins says. “And if you get struck by a vehicle, there’s a very good chance that would kill you.” Higgins works for the Ankeny Police Department and says officers all across the state will be watching for move over violations throughout this week.
You could get a ticket for 210 dollars for failing to move over.
