Connecticut: Hundreds cited in 'Move Over' campaign

Marcarelli recalled one incident in which a fire truck was hit on Interstate 91. The driver in that case was distracted, which Marcarelli and Grant both said is a frequent problem. Marcarelli said some people are looking at handheld devices and radios instead of the road and others have their music blasting so loud they can’t hear fire truck sirens warning them to move out of the way.

“(Civilian drivers) just, in large part, are not paying attention,” he said. “They roll up on an accident and had the apparatus not been up there, our personnel could’ve very easily been hit.” Marcarelli said the department has also changed the appearance of trucks to better protect firefighters. Newer trucks now have a red and gold chevron on the back that is designed to increase visibility and catch drivers’ attention.

The Move Over law covers only highways with two or more lanes in the same direction. However, Marcarelli said firefighters would like to see it somehow extended to city streets because people don’t give firefighters enough room there, either. Firefighter Scott Dillon was hit by a car Feb. 25 as crews cleaned up from a house fire on James Street. The driver had tried to maneuver around Dillon’s truck, which had its red lights flashing.

The driver was cited for driving through a stop sign. Dillon suffered a leg injury and Marcarelli said last week that Dillon was still off from work recovering.  “The reality is, if the lights are on and you see that bright red chevron, there are people working back there,” he said. “It’s a work zone just like it is on the highway.”

New Haven police spokesman Officer David Hartman said enforcing the Move Over law on city streets is tough because there is rarely anywhere for drivers to move.