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The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.
Published November 15, 2017
Motorists reminded to Move Over for emergencies
JEFFERSON CITY – Every minute of every day emergency responders across Missouri
work tirelessly to help save lives at the scene of traffic incidents.
Across the country every year hundreds of emergency responders representing
fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, towing and transportation
agencies are struck and either injured or killed while responding.
The Federal Highway Administration has declared this week (Nov. 13-19, 2017) as
the second annual national Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week.
The Missouri Department of Transportation reminds motorists to move over for any
vehicle with flashing lights on the highway. It’s the law.
MoDOT’s emergency response crews work to keep our state’s transportation system
moving every day. In an average month, MoDOT emergency crews respond to 5,000
traffic incidents.
“MoDOT and its partners in law enforcement, fire, EMS and the tow industry work
together to clear incidents but we need the help of motorists,” said MoDOT Chief
Engineer Ed Hassinger. “Move over when you see responders on the road and give
them extra space to work. Please respect the lives of responders who safeguard
you when you are in a crash.”
Missouri’s Move Over law requires drivers to change lanes when approaching MoDOT
vehicles, law enforcement vehicles and any other emergency vehicle with lights
flashing. If drivers can’t change lanes safely, they must slow down as they pass
the emergency vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported a 7.2
percent increase in roadway fatalities in 2015 over the previous year.
In 2016, another 6 percent jump was reported. Traffic incidents are the number
one cause of death for police officers and EMS responders nationwide.
“When you see lights, vests, reflectors, move over and slow down. Give us room
to work,” said Hassinger. “We’ve got your back. Do you have ours?”
For more information on the Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week, please
visit the national website at
http://timnetwork.org/traffic-incident-response-awareness-week/ or visit
MoDOT’s website at
www.modot.org
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