The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and its safety partners are reminding motorists of their obligation to move over or slow down when passing emergency vehicles responding to an incident.
Representatives from PennDOT, the Highway Safety Network, AAA East Central, the City of Erie Fire Department, Pennsylvania State Police, the City of Erie Police Department, Millcreek Township Police Department, and other area first responders hosted a media event today at the EmergyCare headquarters in Erie to stress the importance of the Move Over Law.
The event was held to kick off an aggressive driving enforcement wave which runs from today through November 12, 2023.
"The Move Over law made the directive clear to all motorists that they play a significant role in helping keep our first responders safe while they perform their duties," said David Basnak, President/Executive Director of EmergyCare. "Preservation of human life is the focal point of every emergency response, no one wants one tragedy compiled by another."
Pennsylvania's Move Over Law requires drivers approaching an emergency response area to move over or slow down for all responders, including police, fire, and ambulance crews, as well as stopped tow trucks and maintenance vehicles. The law also mandates drivers change lanes or slow down when approaching disabled vehicles when at least two emergency displays, such as vehicle hazard lamps, road flares, and/or cones or caution signs are present.
When merging into another lane is not possible, the law requires drivers to pass at a speed of no more than 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit and reasonable for safely passing the emergency response area, which is defined as any spot where an emergency vehicle has its lights flashing, or where road crews or emergency responders have lighted flares, posted signs, or try to warn travelers.
Violating the Move Over Law can result in a citation carrying a fine of $500 for first-time offenders, a $1,000 fine for a second offense, and a $2,000 fine plus a 90-day license suspension for a third or subsequent offenses. Additionally, penalties are increased for any incident that results in serious or fatal injuries to another person.
A total of 158 first responders have been struck and killed in Pennsylvania attending to emergency scenes, according to data from the Emergency Responder Safety Institute.
For more information on the Move Over Law, visit www.penndot.pa.gov/safety.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District1.
Follow local PennDOT news on X and like the department on Facebook.
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Contact: Saxon Daugherty, 814-678-7095 or sadaughert@pa.gov
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