Move Over!
Imagine you are driving down Interstate 75 at 70 MPH and you see a Florida Highway Patrol officer on the right shoulder with their lights on and a car pulled over. Or, you see a fender bender with emergency vehicles pulled off into the right lane. Do you stay in the closest lane and fly by the emergency vehicles? The short answer is no. You’re obligated by Florida law to slow down and safely move over to a further lane.
Move Over Law
The Move Over Law requires you to move over a lane or slow down to 20 MPH below the speed limit. If you are on a road where the speed limit is 20 MPH or less, you are legally required to slow down to 5 MPH.
The purpose of the Move Over Law is to protect law enforcement and emergency vehicle workers from being hit by vehicles passing them at high speed while they are on duty. If you are not in the lane closest to the stopped emergency vehicle, then you need to be prepared to allow other drivers to move over. If you don’t, then you are preventing them from obeying the law.
Violation of the Move Over Law
If you fail to move over as required by law, then you can be issued a ticket, can receive 3 points on your license, and have to pay a fine. More importantly, you will be putting emergency workers in danger.
Safely Follow the Move Over Law
- On Multi-Lane Roads
- Drivers must vacate the lane closest to the stationary emergency vehicle, tow truck, sanitation, or utility vehicle.
- Drivers must slow down to a speed of 20 mph below the posted speed limit if they cannot move over safely.
- Drivers who are not in the lane closest to the stationary vehicle should be prepared to allow those who are to move over into their lane.
- On Two Lane Roads
- Drivers must slow down to a speed of 20 mph below the posted speed limit.
- If the speed limit is 20 mph or less, drivers must travel at 5 mph
The point of the Move Over Law in Florida is to protect emergency workers. If you’re caught violating this law, not only will you have consequences to pay because of the violation of the law, but you will need to also realize that you are putting lives at risk.
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