Last Friday evening, an MDOT Courtesy Patrol van, parked on the I-75 in Auburn Hills for a crash scene, became part of an accident itself when another driver hit the vehicle. FOX 2 Detroit reported that neither the MDOT employee nor the motorist who collided with the courtesy patrol truck suffered severe injuries, with both parties taken to the hospital for observation. The driver who struck the MDOT vehicle was arrested following the incident.
Despite responding to the initial crash, the MDOT courtesy vehicle fell victim to a motorist who failed to heed the "move over, slow down" law. Helping the Auburn Hills Police Department with traffic control, the MDOT van's evening turned chaotic as the driver, who failed to move over, was arrested after the crash. In a statement echoed by many safety campaigns, the Auburn Hills Police Department reminded the public on their Facebook page that "'Move over, slow down” isn’t a suggestion, it’s the LAW.
In a similar vein, WXYZ reported that the MDOT Courtesy Patrol van was actively at a crash scene when the collision occurred. The message from the police to the public was crystal clear, especially with the increase in such preventable incidents: following traffic laws, such as moving over for emergency vehicles, is not merely a suggestion, but a mandatory protocol aimed at safeguarding those who serve on the roads.
