cagers and their pretzel logic!

[musclehead]

observing car drivers and their habits is a fun and fulfilling hobby. I notice that when they see a LEO lit up stationary on the breakdown lane with or without a customer cars will instantly slow down about 10 MPH. then (this is the part that get me) immediately after they pass the LEO they will zip right back up to speed. doesn't make sense 

they initially hit the brakes because they 1, don't know what the speed limit is. 2, because they have a guilty conscious. and 3, just an automatic reflex.

I think it's just funny, slow down before the officer can see you and then speed right back up WHEN the officer can now see  you  ???

[BF]

In Florida, it's the law.  It's called the move over law.  If you see an LEO or other emergency vehicle with it's emergency lights on and pulled over on the side of the road, you're required to slow down at least 20 under the posted and move over one lane away from the the emergency vehicle.  

You can then proceed to violate (or not) the law in any manner you chose after passing on by.  

Incidents like these are why they passed the move over law. 

car hits trooper hard	powered by Aeva

Highway Patrol Trooper Hit By Passing Motorist	powered by Aeva

[GreenLantern57]

More and more states are doing this, unfortunatly lot of LEOs had to die first. Most ask you to move to the empty land or if not possible, then slow down 20, sometimes 10.  I can remember a section of Highway 60 between Amarillo and Pampa in Texas where we lost 5 in 3 years.

[Quicksilver]

Slow down and move over is law in Ontario, and they are serious about it. They will follow you and ticket you if you don't.

[bscrive]

Slow down and move over is law in Ontario, and they are serious about it. They will follow you and ticket you if you don't.

You bet ya.  As it should be everywhere.

[Stormrider65]

As a trucker, we (at least my company) requires us to move over or slow down for LEO's no matter what state we are in.  Its amazing how many out there do not know or don't care about the rules of the road.  I've been driving rigs for almost 18 years and have seen everything from sex in cars to changing clothes, baby diapers, reading newspapers, getting flashed from both men and women, ect.  I have been flipped off more that I can count moving over for a LEO and blocking their way.  They then zip in front of you and hit their brakes.  My favorite is the self important idiot that comes by you, then realizes his exit is there and cuts in front of you or comes across 4 and 5 lanes of traffic to make that same exit.  We are told its up to us to protect the public from themselves, but if they are in that much of a hurry to kill themselves or others, there is not much I or anyone can do.  So many a**holes , no waiting. 

Walt

[Skinhead]

I can't believe the LEO in the second video got up and ran off the road after taking that hit!

[MNBill]

Here in MN it is called the Ted Foss law in honor of a State Trooper killed on I90 east of here. He was run over while at a traffic stop. Move over and slow down both.

[sheets]

The "Move Over" law is not just for LEOs. Its about "Highway Workers", too! Calif. has lost about 40 workers in the past 40 years(exact number escapes me at the moment). Three workers in 2011 alone. Some to errant drivers-some to drunks. There is a "Highway Worker Memorial" every year on the steps of the State Capitol, with multiple hundreds attending, including the survivors of the fallen worker. When a worker is killed on the job, the CHP is the honor guard at the services.  Don't forget about your local two truck operator who is working out there changing tires for motorists as well.  sheets (Ca Hwy guy)

[GotValk]

Heck, I even move over if there is any vehicle on the right shoulder. I can't understand why people don't use a little more common sense when they see things on the road way, ( I know too many other distractions like, cell phone, food, drinks, make up, newspapers ect.) What happen to driving when your driving!

[texaninsouthfl]

@ Gotvalk:

I was complaining about the weather here in south Florida this morning (45 degrees and 20mph wind) until I saw the widget on your post that says it's 15 degrees in MN... 

[FPG52]

Just passed our version of the law here in NY this past year... but there is no specific slow down speed mandated... the law specifies you have to move over for any emergency vehicle... tow truck etc and if too crowded to move over you have to slow down... the only issue I see is idiots panic if they cant move over and slam on brakes causing a chain reaction rrr  The State Police had effort to crack down on violators last month... i January alone ticketed 197 people...

Like comedian Ron White says... "you can't fix stupid"

[Dogg]

I was called on a tow, accident happened on a blind corner coming off the Baltimore beltway(695) entering route 10 south. 55 mph off ramp. Both cars sitting on right shoulder next to a sound barrier wall. Trooper behind the wrecked cars and trooper in front about 50 feet. He left me room to get in. I back in to the first car, drag it off to a parking lot for a rollback to pick it up and return for the second car.  Back up to it, get out, start hooking it up. Just as I got around the passenger side of my truck, tossed my chain under the car, the trooper landed on top of me, dragging me out from under the car in one fluid motion. After the wtf effect wore off, I looked up to see half of the cruiser didn't exsist anymore. There was an s10 pickup in the back seat of it,which had pushed the police cruiser into the wrecked car, which in turn, jacked my tow truck sideways. I was in the pivot with a chain. The guy was trying to pass another car on the shoulder. Hit the cruiser at over 70 mph causing the accident. That trooper dove over the car and saved my life. Because of an asshole.
  Maryland has the move over law also and I have always done that with ANY vehicle on the side of the road. You have no idea what's going on with a vehicle on the shoulder. Scary stuff I have seen because idiots won't move over...

[Dave Ritsema]

As Fudgie will tell you, it also applies to Fire and EMS.  You NEVER turn your back to oncoming traffic when working at a highway scene, and if we are forced to, we will use one of our fire trucks as a blocker to protect us. If someone hits that truck instead of one of us that is OK by me. It is astounding how some drivers simply don't pay attention. We all wear reflective vests now as well, but I dont feel one bit safer.

[Skinhead]

And we choose to ride motorcycles amongst these idiots.

[Jess from VA]

Been pulled over twice in the cage over the last few years (not on the freeway), and slowed and signaled, but drove 2-500 feet to gain access to a strip mall or crossroad to get off the main drag.  Both times the guy said "you pull over where I say, not where you decide."  Answered  "No sir, I'll not stop on a main thruway, I didn't run, used my signal, and got us both out of the way of heavy traffic."  

Didn't like backtalk, but had no more to say about it either.

[musclehead]

I guess I should've said most of these peeps are trundling along in the hammer lane when they suddenly decelerate

[FloridaValkRyder]

As Fudgie will tell you, it also applies to Fire and EMS.  You NEVER turn your back to oncoming traffic when working at a highway scene, and if we are forced to, we will use one of our fire trucks as a blocker to protect us. If someone hits that truck instead of one of us that is OK by me. It is astounding how some drivers simply don't pay attention. We all wear reflective vests now as well, but I dont feel one bit safer.

We responded the Engine or the Truck to all auto accidents on I-4 or SR 436 in my town JUST for lane blockage to protect the Rescue guys working the accident. Engine was hit twice and the Truck once by cars driving and not looking, once by a car going (estimated by the damage) 60mph. Would have killed all the guys working the extrication at a bad accident. Woman said she dropped her sunglasses and was looking for them! Engine moved about 4" and we had to extricate her next. What ever happened to driving prepared for anything???..Too many distractions. Ride safe my friends because it's not that they don't see you...They aren't even looking!!  

P.S. Three things you never want to run into- 1. Concrete truck  2. School bus  3. A parked Fire engine

[old2soon]

As Fudgie will tell you, it also applies to Fire and EMS.  You NEVER turn your back to oncoming traffic when working at a highway scene, and if we are forced to, we will use one of our fire trucks as a blocker to protect us. If someone hits that truck instead of one of us that is OK by me. It is astounding how some drivers simply don't pay attention. We all wear reflective vests now as well, but I dont feel one bit safer.

We responded the Engine or the Truck to all auto accidents on I-4 or SR 436 in my town JUST for lane blockage to protect the Rescue guys working the accident. Engine was hit twice and the Truck once by cars driving and not looking, once by a car going (estimated by the damage) 60mph. Would have killed all the guys working the extrication at a bad accident. Woman said she dropped her sunglasses and was looking for them! Engine moved about 4" and we had to extricate her next. What ever happened to driving prepared for anything???..Too many distractions. Ride safe my friends because it's not that they don't see you...They aren't even looking!!  

P.S. Three things you never want to run into- 1. Concrete truck  2. School bus  3. A parked Fire engine

  Add parked semi to that list any piece of construction equipment larger than a bread box or the jersey barrier. Back when i was doing highway construction in Colorado I did real good everyday-until i had to get out of the cab of my Kenworth. Always got a tad jittery getting out of the cab at the work site. Heard squealing tires of the A holes trying to get stopped more times than i care to recall. Warnings at 2 miles mile and a half 1 mile half a mile 1/4 mile flaggers warning lights and they were still surprised when they got to the work site. IDIOTS NOT near strong enough. Lady flagger we had on one job in less than an hour she had to jump behind/next to her pickup truck 4 or 5 times just to keep from getting hurt. RIDE SAFE.

[musclehead]

cagers don't/can't read  I was rolling around I-240 in Memphis when big orange signs warned folks in the hammer lane the left lane closed 2 miles ahead.  people kept passing, another sign left lane closed 1 miles ahead. people kept flying by, next sign said left lane closed 1/2 mile ahead.    people kept passing until the road disappeared, had a guy in a big pick up turn on his signal and try to crowd me out. I just laid on my air horn and REFUSED to budge, he got behind me