Move over America, the law is in effect.

[R J]

Check this link, 99.9% of the states have it now.

http://www.moveoveramerica.com/

[FLAVALK]

And they'll get yer a$$ if you don't!

[Tundra]

It's just plain old good common sense and common courtesy

[Willow]

Check this link, 99.9% of the states have it now.

Actually, there are only 50 states (despite the claims of the occasional politician).  Your choices are are 98% or 100%.

[ricoman]

if we all did the right thing this, and most laws, would not be needed.
Seems we legislate because we have forgotten (ceased?) to be personally responsible for what we do.

[KW]

It's a GOOD law. . . .  and has been in effect for a few years in Michigan.

At the Michigan State Police training Center they have a Wall of Honor of all the troopers killed in the line of duty. The first time I saw it I was stunned over the number of them killed on the side of the road.

[BigAlOfMD]

Check this link, 99.9% of the states have it now.

Actually, there are only 50 states (despite the claims of the occasional politician).  Your choices are are 98% or 100%.

Maybe he's counting D.C.

[Spirited-6]

We had a Officer killed several months ago in Lexington, Ky. The driver is up for "murder". After he hit the Officer he ran.

[Willow]

Maybe he's counting D.C.

He'd still be 949 states short.

In reality, the site indicates that Hawaii and D.C. are the only ones who don't have an emotionally based "move over" law.  That would be 98% of the states, or if one chooses to include D.C. as an equal participant in the sampling, 96%.

Suffice it to say that almost all the states have "move over" laws.

How many motorists, I wonder, are killed alongside the road?  Why don't the laws simply state that you should slow down or move over for anyone on the side of the road?  Isn't that what we're supposed to do anyway?

[Bobbo]

How many motorists, I wonder, are killed alongside the road?  Why don't the laws simply state that you should slow down or move over for anyone on the side of the road?  Isn't that what we're supposed to do anyway?

The studies I’ve seen show that tired, drunk, or easily distracted people commonly have “target fixation” when they see the flashing emergency lights, and can crash into the patrol car or the other vehicle.  This is substantially more common with an emergency vehicle, versus the more common breakdown or stopped car.

Police attempted to correct this problem with changing the rear emergency lighting to blinking amber bars rather than red or blue lights.  This seems to have helped lower the incident of crashes, but they still happen.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

The reason I did a search of North Carolina is because when you ride through " The I-40 Gorge " that runs between TN & NC you see all these crosses and memorial's for fallen NC Troopers...This thread made me remember to check that out as I've planned to do but never did until now.Looks like only one has died from a vehicle strike....5 in a motorcycle crash 

Fallen officers
The NC State Highway Patrol has a fallen trooper memorial monument at the training center, with the names of all troopers, patrolmen and enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty since the agency was chartered on July 1, 1929. The first Trooper to die in the line of duty was killed on the first day the agency was chartered in a collision during a statewide ride to introduce the new officers to the state. The first trooper murdered in the line of duty was in 1937. As of May 2009, since July 1, 1929, 59 NC Highway Patrol members; patrolmen, troopers and enforcement officers have died in the line of duty: 4 by aircraft accident, 13 by automobile accident, 1 by drowning, 19 by gunfire, 1 by heart attack, 5 by motorcycle accident, 1 struck by vehicle, 12 in pursuits and 3 by vehicular assault.

The Fallen:

• Patrolman G. I. Thompson - Anson County - Killed July 2, 1929, in a motorcycle accident.

• Patrolman A. J. Hedgpath - Richmond County - Killed October 23, 1931, in a motorcycle accident.

• Patrolman A. S. Boney - Duplin County - Killed November 15, 1931, in a motorcycle accident.

• Patrolman C. L. Fiddler - Davidson County - Killed March 20, 1936, in a motorcycle accident.

• Patrolman R. W. Arnold - Halifax County - Killed September 17, 1936, in a motorcycle accident.

• Patrolman I. T. Moore - Wayne County - Killed June 18, 1937, from gunshot wounds inflicted while questioning two suspects, concerning 500 pounds of meat in the rear of their vehicle (later confirmed as stolen).

• Patrolman G. C. Penn - Buncombe County - Killed August 22, 1937, from gunshot wounds inflicted by two escaped felons operating a stolen vehicle.

• Patrolman A. B. Smart - Catawba County - Killed March 2, 1939, in a traffic accident.

• Patrolman H. T. Timberlake - Cumberland County - Killed December 1, 1939, in a traffic accident.

• Patrolman T. B. Whatley - Graham County - Died December 29, 1947, during surgery as a result of a gunshot wound received while attempting to serve a peace warrant with a fellow officer.

• Patrolman W. H. Hogan - Wytheville, Virginia (Assigned to Alleghany County) - Died March 1, 1948, of injuries received when his vehicle was forced into a bridge abutment while pursuing a liquor-laden vehicle.

• Patrolman J. R. Davis - Cherokee County - Killed May 3, 1948, in an airplane crash.

• Patrolman C. E. Galloway - Cherokee County - Killed May 3, 1948, in an airplane crash.

• Patrolman P. W. Smith - Stanly County - Drowned May 27, 1948, after the hood of his patrol car came open causing him to run off the road and overturn in a water-filled ditch.

• Patrolman R. W. Jackson - Carteret County - Died September 3, 1949, in a pursuit related traffic accident.

• Patrolman C. B. Avent - Nash County - Died December 12, 1949, of injuries received when struck by a vehicle while conducting a light checking station.

• Patrolman W. L. Reece - Richmond County - Killed November 5, 1957, from a gunshot wound inflicted by a mental institution escapee after stopping a vehicle for a speeding violation.

• Patrolman J. T. Brown - Lee County - Died November 5, 1957, during surgery after receiving a gunshot wound inflicted by Patrolman W. L. Reece's murderer after stopping a suspicious vehicle.

• Patrolman H. T. Long - Harnett County - Died on December 18, 1959, after being struck by a drunken driver on December 17, 1959 while making a routine traffic stop.

• Patrolman D. B. Searcy - Catawba County - Died October 15, 1960, after his vehicle was struck from the rear by a tractor trailer while he was assisting another patrolman.

• Patrolman H. A. Hight- Moore County - Killed May 31, 1962, in a traffic accident.

• Patrolman L. E. Pace - Guilford County - Killed January 24, 1963, in a pursuit related traffic accident.

• Patrolman W. T. Herbin- Hoke County - Killed August 31, 1964, by gunshot wounds inflicted by the driver of a vehicle he had stopped for questioning.

• Patrolman J. H. Marshburn - Robeson County - Killed September 19, 1964, by gunshot wounds after stopping two pedestrians for questioning near a burned vehicle.

• Patrolman J. W. Wallin - Avery County - Killed April 1, 1966, in a pursuit related traffic accident.

• Patrolman C. H. Hoffman - Iredell County - Killed March 15, 1968, in a pursuit related traffic accident.

• Motor Carrier Officer Robert J. Furmage, Jr. - Robeson County, Killed January 2, 1970,while weighing a commercial vehicle.

• Patrolman P. J. Williams - Pamlico County - Killed November 8, 1970, in a pursuit related traffic accident.

• Patrolman C. S. Perry - Polk County - Killed July 2, 1972, in a pursuit related traffic accident.

• Patrolman J. G. Wright- Person County - Killed on September 27, 1972, from gunshot wounds sustained when he stopped a vehicle occupied by three men wanted in a robbery.

• Patrolman L. T. Walton - Robeson County - Killed December 2, 1972, from gunshot wounds inflicted by the occupants of a vehicle he had stopped for speeding.

• Patrolman R. R. East - Wake County - Killed December 21, 1972, in a pursuit related traffic accident.

• Patrolman L. Meeks, Jr. - Chatham County - Died December 25, 1972, while responding to "officer needs assistance" call when his patrol car skidded off the road and struck a tree.

• Patrolman W. J. Smith - Carteret County - Killed January 11, 1974, in a pursuit related traffic accident.

• First Sergeant J. S. Hackett - Rockingham County - Killed June 19, 1974, in a helicopter crash.

• Patrolman J. A. Parker - Rockingham County - Killed June 19, 1974, in a helicopter crash.

• Patrolman J. D. Templeton - Guilford County - Died September 30, 1974, of traffic accident injuries received on July 11, 1974 while pursuing a fugitive who had kidnapped three nurses.

• Sergeant W. D. Arledge - Buncombe County - Died October 5, 1974, as a result of a gunshot wound inflicted by a drunken driving suspect while administering a breathalyzer test.

• Patrolman L. Canipe, Jr. - Buncombe County - Died October 5, 1974, as a result of a gunshot wound inflicted by a drunken driving suspect while administering a breathalyzer test.

• Patrolman G. T. Davis, Jr. - Martin County - Died September 2, 1975, as a result of a gunshot wound received when he stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation whose occupants had just robbed a bank.

• Patrolman H. R. Griffin - Pender County - Died September 14, 1975, as a result of gunshot wounds received when he stopped a vehicle for speeding whose occupants were wanted for murder.

• Patrolman R. L. Peterson - Rutherford County - Died May 31, 1979, as a result of a gunshot wound received while pursuing a man for speeding who minutes earlier had murdered two county deputies.

• Trooper G. A. Harmon - Haywood County - Died April 9, 1985, as a result of gunshot wounds inflicted by the driver of a vehicle he had stopped for speeding.

• Trooper R. E. Worley - Halifax County - Died May 14, 1985, as a result of gunshot wounds inflicted by the occupants of two stolen vans whom he had stopped for speeding.

• Trooper B. L. Coggins - Madison County - Died September 14, 1985, as a result of gunshot wounds received after stopping a vehicle which had been stolen by two prison escapees.

• Cadet W. E. Bayless, III - Wake County -Died February 5, 1988, while in training at the Highway Patrol Training Center.

• Trooper M. L. Martin - Rockingham County - Killed July 21, 1988, in a pursuit related traffic accident.

• Motor Carrier Officer Jackie Daniel - Mecklenburg County - Killed July 28, 1994, struck by a commercial vehicle while assisting a stranded motorist.

• Motor Carrier Officer F. D. Perritte - Cumberland County - Killed February 14, 1995, in a pursuit related traffic accident.

• Trooper D. C. Roberts - Cumberland County - Died August 7, 1996, as a result of a traffic accident.

• Sergeant Lloyd E. Lowry - Cumberland County Killed September 23, 1997 as a result of gunshot wounds received after stopping a vehicle which had been stolen.

• Trooper William J. Starling - Wilkes County Killed July 20, 1998 as a result of a traffic accident.

• Trooper David H. Dees- Pasquotank County Killed April 4, 1999 as a result of a traffic accident.

• Trooper William B. Davis- Guilford County Killed October 21, 1999 as a result of a traffic accident that occurred while responding to assist another trooper to execute a felony vehicle stop of a suspected stolen vehicle.

• Trooper John H. Duncan- Cumberland County Killed January 9, 2001 as a result of a traffic accident that occurred while pursuing a person who had been stopped for speeding and subsequently fled from the scene.

• Trooper Calvin E. Taylor- Haywood County Killed October 3, 2001 as a result of an accident that occurred during a traffic stop.

• Trooper Anthony Greg Cogdill- Haywood County, was killed on Friday, 30 May 2003, in an automobile accident on I-40 in the performance of his duties.

• Trooper Josh W. Oliver- Anson County, died March 24, 2004 as a result of a traffic collision.

• Trooper David Shawn Blanton - Haywood County, died after being shot on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 during a routine traffic stop.

• Trooper Andrew J. Stocks - Wake County, died September 9, 2008 as the result of a traffic collision.

• Trooper Kyle P. Barber - Wilkes County, died May 19, 2009 as the result of an accident that occurred in the line of duty, January 20, 2007. (DMV Motor Carrier Enforcement Officers included since merger in 2002)[11]

[R J]

Check this link, 99.9% of the states have it now.

Actually, there are only 50 states (despite the claims of the occasional politician).  Your choices are are 98% or 100%.

Maybe he's counting D.C.

NO, not counting that pee pot.

Only state that does not have this law is Obama's supposedly birthplace.  Hawaii.

So, the actual figure is 98%

[fudgie]

How many motorists, I wonder, are killed alongside the road?  Why don't the laws simply state that you should slow down or move over for anyone on the side of the road?  Isn't that what we're supposed to do anyway?

The studies I’ve seen show that tired, drunk, or easily distracted people commonly have “target fixation” when they see the flashing emergency lights, and can crash into the patrol car or the other vehicle.  This is substantially more common with an emergency vehicle, versus the more common breakdown or stopped car.

Police attempted to correct this problem with changing the rear emergency lighting to blinking amber bars rather than red or blue lights.  This seems to have helped lower the incident of crashes, but they still happen.

Your right. Last winter or so we were issued them neon looking yellow coats for 'safety'. She sent out a policy that states we could be fired for not having them on at a traffic scene. 90% of us do not wear coats in the winter. Long sleaves is what we use unless its a long extrication. They become more of a hinderance then a saftey thing. Try crawing into a car the size of your pc screen with your winter coat on. lol She issued reflective vest, like the one Steamer wore at Cheaha.  They are tucked tightly behind the ambulance seat. Never had one on. we figure if they cant see 5 emergency vehicles with red and blue lights flashing then they aint gonna see us. Its also a fireable offence they tell us. Oh well, i'm still employed.  My partner and I have a plan. If we do get hit she will put my vest on me as I will for her. 
Our new ambulance also has black and orange reflective striping to the entire back of the truck. We look like a Bengal fan.  I guess it law in a year or so for all emergency vehicles to have it on.

[fudgie]

8 or 9 years ago we went to a car wreck at 4a on a city street. Driver had minor injuries. We pull our truck up next to her car in the opposite lane. Blocked the road to give us working room. We didnt want to pull her out into the other lane and get hit. We and a city cop were the only ones there, which was odd. The dick, er I mean city cop, just watched us and offered no help. She was a biggin' to. Get her loaded and assess her and get ready to leave when the cop opens the drivers door and yells at my partner and giving him hell for the way we parked. 'dont ever come to his scene and park like this.' He was yelling and grabbing at the door of the ambulance that the whole truck was shaking back and forth.  Turns out some car went around us up on the curb and it po'd him off that he took it out on us. We went back and reported it but the dick was the SGT on duty.  He retired a few years ago and he is still a dick.

So much for our safety. 

[musclehead]

move over or slow down, and the silly cagers see me turn on my turn signal and they tear themselves away from texting, talking, reading, putting on make up, making a stock trade, swatting the kids in the back seat with a flyswatter they keep up front, and slow down too. effectively blocking my big rig from moving over.  not that it makes me mad or anything

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

move over or slow down, and the silly cagers see me turn on my turn signal and they tear themselves away from texting, talking, reading, putting on make up, making a stock trade, swatting the kids in the back seat with a flyswatter they keep up front, and slow down too. effectively blocking my big rig from moving over.   not that it makes me mad or anything

You still driving for Werner Enterprises ? 

[sheets]

Applies to highway workers also. Up until a few weeks ago we were at 61 Calif. State employees killed on the road since 1972. A week before Thanksgiving we tallied # 62. A 30+ year State highway dept. veteran was manning a road closure/detour due to a double fatal crash. Place lit up like the fourth of July... reflective gear worn... DUI driver went through the closure (employee -- vehicle with message board -- flares -- barriers) and proceeded a mile up the road to where it was actually closed due to the earlier crash. CHP was investigating the scene when DUI driver pulled up... trying to get through. Needless to say... he got cuffed and stuffed.  Highway Workers... Give'em a Brake! 

In the line of duty....

sheets
Highway guy   

[valkmc]

"Sgt. Wesley Whitmore, 60, a 15-year veteran of the agency, died from "significant blunt force trauma" when he was hit by a Cadillac Escalade, Judd said."

Polk County sherrif killed because a elderly man blacked out and his car hit the officer, I say give'm rrom or get a stiff fine, works for me.