What is the Move Over Law?

• A. Ignore all emergency vehicles.
• B. Only move over if there is a traffic jam.
• C. Stop directly in the lane next to them.
• D. When safe, move over a lane or slow down when approaching emergency or work vehicles stopped on the shoulder.

Answer: (D)

Move Over Law is about giving space to people who are working on or responding to incidents on the roadside. When you see emergency or road workers with flashing lights, you should, if it’s safe, change into a different lane away from the stopped vehicle. If you can’t move over safely because of traffic or road conditions, you must slow down significantly as you pass. This rule protects police, firefighters, ambulance crews, tow trucks, and maintenance workers, reducing the risk of additional crashes.

In practice, on a multi-lane highway you’d drift into the adjacent lane away from the stopped vehicle; if that isn’t possible, you slow down well below the speed limit and proceed with extra caution. Ignoring the scene, staying in the same lane, or stopping directly beside the vehicle does not provide the needed protection and can endanger those working on the shoulder.