Understanding Florida’s Move Over Law
Michael Babboni
Car Accidents
In the state of Florida, the law requires that motorists move or yield right of way to a stopped emergency, utility, or sanitation vehicle. Among these vehicles, tow trucks are also included. If there is no way for the motorist to safely move over, then it is required that they slow down to approximately twenty miles per hour less than the speed limit is posted.This law came to fruition following an abundant number of fatal crashes that involved emergency vehicles on the Florida highways. These laws have been put in place to make it safer for these vehicles on the roadside to do their job.
Is it Just Florida Law?
Following Florida’s Move Over Law, several other states have also decided to adopt the same set of rules for their roadways. However, it is still being said that more than half of the nation’s drivers have never heard about the move over law.
What Happens if You Fail to Move Over?
If you are driving in the state of Florida and fail to move over or slow down, then you can find that you will be hit with fines in excess of $150, have a potential increase in your car insurance rates, and it can also result in three points on a driver’s license.
While these consequences may not seem that harsh, the points can begin to add up if you continue to break the law. If you accumulate a total of twelve points over a twelve-month timeframe, then you will be subject to certain driving restrictions. Following the law and keeping track of how many points you have on your license is important.
Some More Statistics
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), there were 212 crashes and approximately 17,000 citations issued for failing to adhere to the move over law in 2017 alone.
The Move Over Law went into effect in Florida in 2002, so while you may think it is the younger drivers who are being careless and failing to follow this lifesaving law, it is really the older drivers (between the ages of 30 and 60) that are seeing the fines and citations.
The younger drivers are most likely already aware of the law since they had recently been through driver’s education classes. However, those that received their license prior to the law going into effect in 2002 may be unaware.
Making Safety a Top Priority
Florida’s Move Over Law is a good attempt at making safety a top priority on the state’s roadways. As driver’s, we each have a role to play and we need to educate ourselves and take into consideration any new laws going into effect. Improving public awareness is just one step in the right direction towards educating drivers and saving lives in the process.
Not only does the law protect those stopped emergency vehicles, but it is also working to protect the people that are in dire need of those emergency vehicles. By moving over and slowing down, we are essentially making it safer for these vehicles to be on the roadside helping and assisting other drivers.