move-over law

[Guest seuadr]

as mentioned, it's been this way in michigan for a while, but holy crap. a 750 dollar fine is something that i would fight tooth and nail. that is excessive.

 

reminds me of our drivers responsability act here in michigan. 900 dollar fine for not having proof of insurance when you are stopped. even if you have proof that you wre insured when you are stopped. retarded.

[Gray Ghost]

If I recall correctly the big push for this law came around 2007 (at least where I was at the time) because a state trooper had been sucked out into traffic from a large vehicle speeding by him. I had never thought about how dangerous the air currents were from passing vehicles. I guess some of the fines might seem over the top, but given the reason for the law in the first place, I don't have a problem with it.

[Jerry W]

Funny thing about the law, obey it and the fine doesn't really matter. Hmmmm

[dynodon]

LIl Beaver and Jerry, As stated in the Rules of the road, it is just Mover over OR slow down. Doesn't even go into the detail that beave posted. But even that is without any guidelines.

 

You can obey the law, and get a ticket because it is so vague. If you decide you can't move over and you slow way down and cause an accident...well, you are at fault again!

 

And I see all the time the result of this poorly written law as people that don't pay attention all of a sudden force into the next lane and cars go everywhere, and gawkers add to the confusion.

 

It used to be that most people used common sense, but now that there is a "law" people panic, and more people are going to be hurt.

 

Kind of like the draconian laws in construction zones. I see speed limits artificially reduced miles before there are any people or work being done. All this and virtually NO construction workers get hurt by passing cars, they are run over by their own people in the zone! Statistics cited by many reputable news organizations from the IDOT's own info.

 

Oh and don't get me started on school zones where in Illinois it reads "School speed Zone 20 mph (or whatever) on school days when children are present. Does that mean if they are in the building or only if they are in sight outside? What about if the sign says only if the light is flashing and it is flashing during a school holiday like today during spring break?

 

Illinois needs a secretary of state that actually drives on the roads to see what is happening.

 

sorry about the soapbox rant. I want police/emergency/construction workers and kids to all be safe. Just want logical clear laws to get to that point.

[saddlebum]

Ontario has had that law now for awhile as well. Its not well known but get an officer on a bad day and you will be educated

[dragerman]

We have the same laws here in Canada.

[LilBeaver]

LIl Beaver and Jerry, As stated in the Rules of the road, it is just Mover over OR slow down. Doesn't even go into the detail that beave posted. But even that is without any guidelines.

 

You can obey the law, and get a ticket because it is so vague. If you decide you can't move over and you slow way down and cause an accident...well, you are at fault again!

 

And I see all the time the result of this poorly written law as people that don't pay attention all of a sudden force into the next lane and cars go everywhere, and gawkers add to the confusion.

 

It used to be that most people used common sense, but now that there is a "law" people panic, and more people are going to be hurt.

 

Kind of like the draconian laws in construction zones. I see speed limits artificially reduced miles before there are any people or work being done. All this and virtually NO construction workers get hurt by passing cars, they are run over by their own people in the zone! Statistics cited by many reputable news organizations from the IDOT's own info.

 

Oh and don't get me started on school zones where in Illinois it reads "School speed Zone 20 mph (or whatever) on school days when children are present. Does that mean if they are in the building or only if they are in sight outside? What about if the sign says only if the light is flashing and it is flashing during a school holiday like today during spring break?

 

Illinois needs a secretary of state that actually drives on the roads to see what is happening.

 

sorry about the soapbox rant. I want police/emergency/construction workers and kids to all be safe. Just want logical clear laws to get to that point.

 

What I quoted came from the Illinois compiled statutes for vehicle code enforcement (a book that I learned inside and out for work related reasons). I didn't realize that the rules of the road book was so vague, although unfortunately, I cannot say that I am surprised.

 

I now understand where you are coming from and know that I read your initial post with the wrong 'tone' in mind. I read it a few times trying to make sure I could understand your positioning on what you were saying but your last post here definitely cleared it up for me.

 

I couldn't agree more with your last two sentences there. It is too bad that things like 'common sense' and 'common courtesy' are not so common anymore. You cite several examples of that and those are the primary reasons that I enjoy cruising down some back road in the middle of nowhere - no people to cut you off, slam on their brakes in front of you or fling their boogers out the window at you (or gum out their window to hit you in the face... not that THAT has happened before or anything).

 

Anyways, thanks again for clearing up your position on this and it is very unfortunate that sometimes individuals with good intentions get punished for trying to do the right thing (be it follow the law because it is the law, or simply do something because it is the right thing to do).

 

'nuff said.

[LilBeaver]

If I recall correctly the big push for this law came around 2007 (at least where I was at the time) because a state trooper had been sucked out into traffic from a large vehicle speeding by him...

 

 

The time frame on this differs from state to state but the rational for it remains the same nationwide.

[Bigfoot]

As a retired 30 year police officer I can tell you this is a good law. We had two major interstates run through my county and I can't begin to explain telling you what it was like sitting along the side wondering who was going to wipe me out. Many here say it's common sense to move over but you might be surprised how many people won't move over. Back in the days when officers and troopers used to use CB radios we would hear truckers talking about a game which the name now escapes me. But basically the truckers would see how close they could skim a state trooper alongside the interstate and see if they could blow his hat off. For some idiotic reason troopers have to wear their hats.

A good friend of mine had the butt of his sidearm hit on a traffic stop on a 4 lane road cause the driver got that close. I had a friend lose both legs standing behind a car broken down on the side of the road as the driver was fixated on the red/blue lights and ran into the officer and car pinning her there.

And the police memorial wall in DC has many names of officers killed working alongside the road.

It is common sense to move over for anyone stopped alongside the road but unfortunately too many drivers out here drive with no common sense whatsoever.

[Guest seuadr]

Funny thing about the law, obey it and the fine doesn't really matter. Hmmmm

 

i wish that was always true.

 

i've been stopped and fined for "following too close" because it's "reckless" with a good 4+ carlengths between me and the person infront of me. I've been fined for failure to obey a traffic device that turned yellow as i was going under it. stopped for 1mph over the speed limit and fined. once an officer tried to arrest me because the container i was drinking out of was clear glass and he was convinced that i was driving with an open container even after i passed a breathilizer and he checked the container ( i don't drink, at all.)

 

it's not always because you actually broke a law, if you live in an area they are hard up for money, or if you simply look like the type, etc.

 

nevermind getting a 900 dollar fine for not having a proof of insurance..

 

i think that law is great.. but sometimes the fines are a bit much.

[Gene Kearns]

Idiots in my area have a hard time doing this . It urks me to see them do it . But then again , the majority of slowwwwwwww traffic constantly drive in the inside lane anyways .

 

BEER30

 

This is a 8 year old law in NC, but we all used to do it, anyway. Seems newcomers to the state didn't find it necessary. It is a shame one has to legislate common sense and courtesy.

 

I appreciate those folks that do give wide berth to emergency vehicles... my kid is a cop and I'd like to keep him safe.....

[Brake Pad]

The law In Florida is you move over for Both Road Rangers & police Cars.

and also a 3foot rule, for Bi-cycles ( But most people, move over a lane there too.)

[Brenda H]

That law has been in effect here in Texas for awhile now. I'm all for it. BUT I've been in the situation where the idiot that was in the inside lane was in my blind spot and I couldn't see him to get over for a county mounty. I could tell he was not a happy camper as I was going slow enough for him to tell me to "move over!!"

 

As for what a fast moving vehicle can do to something it passes. . . . I was pulling my flatbed trailer loaded with hay. An 18wheeler came by me and the vacumn he created caused my trailer to fishtail my truck to the point where I ended up three lanes over before I got it stopped and under control. Fortunately for me, I was on a 5 lane highway [2 north-2 south w/ turnlane] and there wasn't much traffic that day. If I had been on something narrower - OUCH! OH FUN!!

[Zfrebird4]

I immediately hit my emergency flashers, ... until I can see a chance to pull over away from the Trooper, then signal and LEAVE MY SIGNAL ON for others a few, then back to EFs. Just my way. We owe these folks the best we can give. I do NOT want to do a Patriot Guard rider for another Trooper.

 

Thanks for posting. And it's the law here in CO too.

 

JackZ