Each time a law enforcement officer stops on the side of the road and gets out to help motorist, investigate a crash or conduct a traffic stop, they are putting their own lives at risk.
To address the heightened danger involved in these roadside stops, every state has enacted “Move Over” laws, requiring motorists to change lanes and/or slow down when approaching stopped emergency vehicles.
These laws can only save lives if:
- Motorists are aware of them;
- Drivers obey them; and
- Law enforcement officers enforce the
That’s why I’m reminding you of this important topic. I want you to know about South Carolina’s “Move Over” law and I want to help protect all law enforcement officers when they step out of a car on the side of a road.
Moving over when you see an emergency vehicle responding to an incident on the side of the road is required by law. Every state has enacted “Move Over” laws, requiring drivers to change lanes and/or slow down when they approach emergency vehicles stopped on the side of the road. It’s not an option or a courtesy, it’s the law.
The more people hear the message, the more they’ll understand. We are asking for your help to spread the message. Tell motorists to Move Over. It’s the Law. Think about the hundreds of law enforcement officers killed on our nation’s highways over the last decade. Let’s honor their memory and prevent any future, similar tragedies from happening.