Louisiana: Move Over Law enforces road safety

A weeklong enforcement effort by state police is targeting drivers who fail to do so. Traffic Incident Management Awareness Week is being enforced through Nov. 21. The goal is to remind drivers of the dangers emergency responders face when they are responding to incidents or even pulling over a driver for a traffic violation.

“Far to often across this country and around this state, tragedy occurs when emergency personnel and roadside workers are struck when drivers fail to move over and provide a safe working environment on our highways,” said Col. Mike Edmondson, state police superintendent, in a news release. “Especially in today’s modern world which is full of distractions, it is everyone’s responsibility to stay alert, and to move over whenever you see emergency vehicles or vehicles with emergency flashers stopped on the highway.”

Not doing so can be deadly, as Southwest Louisiana knows first-hand. A Fenton police officer was hit by his own patrol car in August after it was struck by another car while he was making a traffic stop on U.S. 165.

Officer Shannon Brown was standing in front of his Tahoe when a vehicle struck the rear end of his vehicle, causing the Tahoe to strike the vehicle Brown had stopped. Investigators determined that Brown’s police vehicle had emergency lighting on at the time of the crash.

“As he was issuing the citation, a motorist did not yield and struck his police unit from the rear, causing it to strike him,” Sgt. Vernon O’Quinn of the Fenton Police Department said at the time of the incident.

Brown suffered serious injuries to one of his legs and died Aug. 13 in a Lake Charles hospital. The driver of the vehicle that struck Brown’s unit was charged with failing to move over for an emergency vehicle.

“It is my wish that slowing down and moving over becomes a habit for every driver,” Edmondson said. “So please, always drive safety, and remember to move over. It’s not just the law, it’s the right thing to do.”

Emergency responders are on roadsides to address and remove dangerous conditions. It’s up to us, as motorists, not to compound and worsen the situation.

Heed the flashing lights, respect law and move over.