Did you know that January is Move Over Month here in Florida. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reminds all motorists to obey Florida’s Move Over Law. This law helps to protect those who protect us while they provide essential services in a dangerous environment – the side of the road. Florida law requires you to move over a lane — when you can safely do so — for stopped law enforcement, emergency, sanitation, utility service vehicles, tow trucks or wreckers, maintenance or construction vehicles with displaying warning lights, and any disabled vehicle on the side of the road. If you can’t move over — or when on a two-lane road — slow to a speed that is 20 mph less than the posted speed limit.
FLHSMV educates new and young drivers on the Move Over Act with information in the driver handbook, even including Move Over questions on the driver exam. Statistically the most likely to violate the Move Over Act is drivers aged 20-40. This age group is less likely to move over or slow down when they approach emergency, service or disabled vehicles.
In 2022, there were 170 crashes, and more than 14,000 citations issued for motorists failing to move over in Florida.
When a driver fails to move over for stopped or disabled vehicles on the roadside, they put the safety of law enforcement, first responders, service professionals AND the motorists they assist gravely at risk.
Florida law requires motorists to move over a lane when they can safely do so for the following:
Stopped law enforcement.
Emergency responders.
Sanitation and utility service vehicles.
Tow trucks or wreckers.
Maintenance or construction vehicles with displayed warning lights without advanced signs or channelizing devices.
Disabled vehicles.
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