State Police Remind Motorists to 'Move Over'

A Howard County Police Department officer, a person he had in custody, and a driver who hit them were hospitalized Jan. 22 in Mt. Airy.

An engine from the Brooklandville Fire Station was hit on I-83; and a vehicle from Lutherville was struck on I-695.

Those are just a few of the collisions that have occurred when motorists don't obey a state law that requires motorists to move over, or at least slow down, if they come across emergency vehicles.

Maryland's "Move Over Law" went into effect Oct. 1, 2010, and State Police want to remind drivers about it.

"Move over or slow down in order to provide an extra barrier of safety for officers, firefighters and emergency rescue personnel working along Maryland roadways," said Col. Marcus Brown, superintendent of .

Brown was one of five emergency response leaders to speak Wednesday morning during a news conference at the .

Drivers still don't know about the law, so emergency responders still find themselves and their equipment in danger of being struck by passing motorists, he said.

"Clearly, we believe there is a need to boost awareness for this law," Brown said after naming several State Police incidents where troopers were injured after being struck by motorists. "Ultimately, we want the public to make it a habit to slow down or move over whenever they see the blue and red lights."

Also speaking were Baltimore County police Chief Jim Johnson, Howard County police Chief William McMahon, Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund Executive Director Kent Krabbe and Lt. Scott Goldstein of the Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company.

Each mentioned other incidents where complying with the Move Over Law could have saved injury, narrow escapes with death, or death itself.

It's important to follow this law in order to keep emergency first-responders safe, Johnson said.

"There is no equipment strong enough to protect them [emergency responders] from passing vehicles that weigh thousands of pounds," he said.

"Often time officers will have to dive out of the way, and often they have nowhere to go."

To help residents become aware of the law, Brown said he designates May as Move Over Month.

"May is the month where emergency responders are remembered for the sacrifice that we make in protecting the citizens of Maryland," he said. So it's fitting that the law be addressed annually during that month.

Brown also unveiled a new bumper sticker that will be used on police, fire, and State Highway Administration vehicles and by other agencies throughout the state.

The sticker, supplied by the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund, states: "If I'm on the Shoulder, Slow Down, Move Over. It's the Law."

Traffic-related incidents were the leading cause of law enforcement fatalities over the last decade in the United States, said Kent Krabbe, MAIF executive director.

"The more that drivers are aware of this law, the more likely it is that when approaching an emergency vehicle on the shoulder, they will recognize the situation and move over ... " he said.

McMahon thanked the legislators who approved the law.

He said that motorists can show their appreciation for emergency responders by complying with it.

In addition, he asked for the same courtesy for other workers.

"Even though the law does not cover our friends at [State Highway Administration] and public works who are out there in a very dangerous position, we need ... our driving community to move over for them as well," he said.

Maryland was one of the last three states to pass this type of law, according to a State Police news release.

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, since 1999, more than 150 U.S. law enforcement officers have been killed after being struck by vehicles along America's highways, the release states.