Drivers in the Sunshine State are being given a stark reminder this month, as Florida's Highway Patrol (FHP) presses on with a campaign to ensure that motorists are up to date on recent expansions to the "Move Over" law. CBS Miami reports that the law, originally protecting law enforcement and first responders on the road, now shields a wider array of roadside workers and even everyday drivers dealing with a breakdown.
Starting this month, as shared by FHP officials in a conference covered by NBC Miami, the amended law requires motorists to yield a lane or slow down by at least 20 mph below the speed limit to all disabled vehicles with visible hazard signals. A misfortune of redesigning Florida's "Move Over" law now puts tow truck drivers, road rangers, construction workers, and any disabled vehicle in the spotlight for a required courtesy by passing drivers.
The changes come in response to alarming statistics from the Florida Department of Transportation, which has seen more than 1,700 crashes, including 128 serious incidents and eight deaths since 2015 — the fallout from drivers not abiding by the existing "Move Over" rules.
FHP Major Ellery Collado emphasized the preventable nature of these tragedies. "Unfortunately, over the years, we have seen many troopers firefighters, so tow truck drivers road rangers, and construction workers, injured or killed by someone not giving them room to work. This is 100 percent preventable," Collado told CBS Miami. At the press conference, an explanation of the law's update by someone who was Lieutenant Indiana Miranda of the Florida Highway Patrol stressed that just slowing down or moving over can save lives.
Drivers caught violating the "Move Over" statute can expect a fine of $179, including points on their driving license, representing both a financial and a reputational reminder to comply with traffic laws designed to keep everyone safer on the road.
