Ohio: ODOT Workers at Risk From Drivers Avoiding Move Over Law
The Ohio move over law in Ohio was expanded in 2013 to not only include law enforcement but to include anyone who serves the public along state highways," said Rhonda Pees from ODOT District 1. The expanded group includes utility workers, tow truck drivers, and ODOT workers, like Tedford Cory. "October 1 of 2007, I was rear ended by somebody going 45 and I was sitting still," said Cory. Cory says he takes precautions, but distracted drivers are still a danger. "We have all kinds of orange barrels and these vests we're wearing, but if they don't see them, or they fall asleep or something like that, none of that means anything," said Cory.
"A lot of people are on their mobile devices or changing the radio station or in a conversation with somebody in the car or their eyes aren't on the road or paying attention to what they need to be doing," said Lt. David Brown with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, "So, when we actually make these stops for that violation people say they didn't see us at all, which is remarkable really because we have bright lights on top of the vehicle." Whenever you see flashing lights, whether it be state patrol's red and blue, ODOT's green, yellow, and white, or even yellow from a tow truck, slow down and move over.
"Even though you don't see people, the law applies, because at any moment they could be stepping out of a truck or stepping from behind a piece of equipment and it's just important that the law be abided by at all times," said Pees.
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