Published on Tuesday, June 27, 2006
in the Tallahassee Democrat

If you can't move over, slow down

Following up on the Move Over law, which states that if an emergency vehicle with lights flashing is tending to someone on the side of the highway, and you're in the lane closest to it, you must move out of that lane "as soon as it is safe to do so":

"As soon as it is safe to do so" assumes it will be safe at some point. The first time I had the opportunity to "move over," traffic was so jammed up I couldn't. The next time, I could have but it just didn't seem prudent, given the traffic.

The third time, on I-10 between I-75 and Tallahassee, I saw blue lights up ahead with a car behind me in the left lane approaching at high speed. When it passed, I changed lanes, then watched as the car ahead of me almost pulled in front of the car but swerved back. Next, an old pickup truck with a top-heavy camper almost did the same thing. His swerving back almost caused him to lose control.

What does the Florida Highway Patrol want us to do if traffic is too heavy to change lanes?

Jim

If highway traffic is too heavy, says Lt. John Bagnardi, follow the part of the law that deals with two-lane roads: Slow down to 20 mph less than the speed limit.

"We are simply trying to get people to bring their vehicles to controllable speeds" for the safety of those who respond to emergencies, said Highway Patrol Lt. John Bagnardi.