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    PennDOT, AAA, PSP Team Up to Stress Emergency Responder Safety Ahead of National Move Over Day, Aggressive Driving Wave

    October 18, 2023

    ​Pittsburgh, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), AAA East Central, and Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) partnered to remind motorists to keep emergency responder safety in mind and avoid aggressive driving.

    The partners highlighted the importance of watching out for emergency personnel on the road ahead of National Move Over Day on October 21. As responders focus on saving lives, the motoring public are asked to make the responders' safety a priority as well. This includes abiding by Pennsylvania's Move Over Law, which requires drivers approaching an emergency response area who are unable to safely merge into a lane farther away from the response area to "pass the emergency response area at a speed of no more than 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit and reasonable for safely passing."

    PennDOT District 11's tunnel crew work around-the-clock each day to ensure the safety of the motoring public. As trained emergency personnel, the crew often assist motorists on the side on the road near live traffic. They are regularly exposed to speed and distracted motorists and rely on the drivers to help keep them safe.

    Also discussed at the event, was the upcoming Aggressive driving mobilization, which runs from October 23 to November 12. Aggressive driving is one of the leading factors of highway crashes and fatalities in Pennsylvania. Police will target drivers demonstrating unsafe behaviors such as speeding, texting, careless driving, work zone safety violations and any other aggressive driving actions, including not abiding by the Move Over Law.

    According to PennDOT data, in 2022 there were 7,248 aggressive driving related crashes statewide. Also last year, there were 3,688, speeding related crashes, which is the top offense law enforcement sees in aggressive driving citations.

    Drivers are asked to observe the Move Over Law to keep emergency personnel safe, and to avoid aggressive driving to keep each other safe. Please Remember safety is everyone's responsibility.

     
    For more information, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/safety.

    PennDOT's media center offers social-media-sized graphics highlighting topics such as seat belts, impaired driving, and distracted driving for organizations, community groups, or others who share safety information with their stakeholders.

    For regional updates, follow PennDOT on X and join the Greater Pittsburgh Area PennDOT Facebook group.

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