New Highway Signs Remind Motorists to Move Over or Slow Down When Passing Emergency Personnel

March 19, 2008 | Virginia News

RICHMOND – On Wednesday, March 19, dozens of troopers, police officers, deputy sheriffs, fire and emergency services personnel joined Virginia’s Secretary of Public Safety, John W. Marshall, and Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, to unveil Virginia’s new Move Over highway signs during a press conference in Bristol, Va.

Southwest Virginia is first to receive the 12 feet by 4 feet signs which will be positioned along I-81 and I-77 to welcome drivers as they enter the Commonwealth from Tennessee, West Virginia, and North Carolina. After the unveiling, the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) Bristol District will set the three signs in the ground later in the week.

“These signs mark a major step forward in the on-going efforts to alert the public about Virginia’s Move Over law,” said the Honorable John W. Marshall. “This is another tool to educate the community, caution drivers about the law, and to try and keep our law enforcement and emergency personnel safe.”

Virginia is one of 40 states with a Move Over law requiring drivers to change 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.

Nationwide, in the last two years, 15 law enforcement personnel were hit and killed while standing outside of their vehicles.* Last February, Trooper K.S. Chapman was severely injured in Smyth County after a drunk driver smashed into his patrol car, while it was parked on the side of the road. Trooper Chapman was inside his car finishing up a traffic stop on southbound I-81 when the crash occurred. In 2007, three Virginia State troopers were struck within a month of each other by a passing car while working an incident. Thankfully, none of them was seriously hurt.

“This law is intended to save lives,” says Colonel Flaherty. “We can’t stress enough how important it is for drivers to pay attention and to move over or slow down for all emergency personnel stopped on the side of the road.”

For more information regarding the Move Over law, brochures and public service announcements, visit the Virginia State Police Website at http://www.vsp.virginia.gov.

Location of Virginia Move Over Highway Signs:

• I-77, SB – Mile marker 66.3
  (South of the East River Tunnel)
• I-77, NB – Mile marker 1.4
• I-81, NB – Mile marker 1.05

**Source: National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund