MOTORISTS ADVISED TO “MOVE OVER” FOR TROOPERS DURING HOLIDAY SEASON
RICHMOND – Moving over or slowing down for emergency vehicles and personnel stopped on the side of a road is the law in Virginia. It can also mean the difference between life and death for a public safety professional conducting a traffic stop or investigating a traffic crash.
As thousands begin their Thanksgiving travels, the Virginia State Police today hosted press conferences in Richmond and Roanoke to launch the first phase of a new public awareness campaign to remind Virginians to comply with Virginia’s “Move Over” law (Code of Virginia 46.2-921.1). The law requires a driver to move over to another travel lane or, when not able to, to slow down when passing emergency personnel stopped out on the road. Violation of the law carries a punishment of up to a $2,500 fine and/or 12 months in jail.
“The Virginia State Police are committed to making everyone’s holiday season a safe one on our highways,” said Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “We’re looking out for the public’s safety and in return ask that the public look out for ours as well.”
The public awareness campaign features a 30-second public service announcement (PSA) that explains the Move Over law and includes dashboard-camera footage of a Virginia State Police trooper and a trooper-trainee being struck by a car running off the road in July 2007. The two troopers were at a checking detail in the middle of the afternoon in Henry County. The video was created and produced by Virginia State Police in partnership with Virginia Tech. It will soon be available on the Virginia State Police Web site at http://www.vsp.virginia.gov.
The Move Over PSA will also reach more than 148,000 students, faculty and staff at 23 Virginia community college campuses. The following campuses are partnering with state police to broadcast the PSA over their internal and, in some cases, external cable television services: Eastern Shore Community College (Melfa); Germanna Community College (Locust Grove); John Tyler Community College (Midlothian); Lord Fairfax Community College (Middletown); Mountain Empire Community College (Big Stone Gap); New River Community College (Dublin); Northern Virginia Community College (Manassas & Annandale); Patrick Henry Community College (Martinsville); Southside Virginia Community College (Alberta); and Tidewater Community College (Norfolk).
Move Over bumper stickers and posters are also part of the campaign and will be distributed to and through Virginia State Police offices and division headquarters statewide. State troopers will also be incorporating the video and educational materials into public safety presentations presented to various age and community groups.
“Every trooper while out on the road has experienced more than one ‘near miss’ with a passing motorist,” said Colonel Flaherty. “We are asking drivers to be alert and comply with the Move Over law when passing police, rescue, and fire personnel stopped on the side of the road. Their lives depend on it.”
From 1997 to 2006 nationwide, 127 law enforcement professionals have been struck by vehicles during the course of conducting a traffic stop, directing traffic, assisting motorists, etc.* Last year 13 officers nationwide died as a result of being struck and killed by a motorist.* Since 1932, eight male and female Virginia State Police troopers have lost their lives to a reckless driver.
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*Source: FBI
