Move Over Law
What is the Move Over Law?
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- The "Move Over Law," which passed in 2006, is a part of the [State Law: Move Over for Stopped Emergency Vehicles] "Failure to Yield to Emergency Vehicles Law" (T.C.A. 55-8-132) and requires motorists to move over into the adjacent lane of traffic, when safe to do so, or alternatively to slow down for emergency vehicles. In 2011, the law was expanded to include utility service equipment to the list of vehicles for which motorists are required to either slow down or move over.
- Tennessee was the 30th state to establish a move over law which creates a safety zone to protect police, firefighters, other emergency personnel, and utility workers.
- The penalty for violating the "Move Over Law" in Tennessee is a maximum fine of up to $500 and possibly up to 30 days in jail.
- Operation of vehicles and streetcars on approach of authorized emergency vehicles.
- The "Move Over" campaign was created to raise awareness of the move over law, and protect state troopers and others whose workplace is often the side of a busy highway.
- Upon approaching a stationary recovery vehicle, highway maintenance vehicle, solid waste vehicle, or utility service vehicle, when the vehicle is giving a signal by use of authorized flashing lights, a person who drives an approaching vehicle shall:
Proceeding with due caution, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the stationary recovery vehicle, highway maintenance vehicle, solid waste vehicle, or utility service vehicle if possible with due regard to safety and traffic conditions, if on a highway having at least four lanes with not less than two lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle; or proceeding with due caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions, if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe.
- Upon approaching a stationary motor vehicle that is located on the shoulder, emergency lane, or median and the vehicle is giving a signal by use of flashing lights, a person who drives an approaching vehicle shall:
Proceeding with due caution, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that of the motor vehicle, if possible with due regard to safety and traffic conditions, if on a highway having at least four lanes with not less than two lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle; or proceeding with due caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions, if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe.