Move over – it’s the law, but apparently, one that many Cleveland-area motorists don’t think applies to them.
While at the scene of a traffic accident on I-77 south early Tuesday morning, News 5 photographer Mike Vielhaber caught on camera dozens of motorists refusing to move over for emergency vehicles at the scene of the accident. Vielhaber sped up the video to show the volume of cars not following the Move Over law over the short time span that he was recording. Not only do cars not move over, some cars even cross lanes in a non-passing area to get around and ahead of an ambulance arriving at the scene.
The Move Over law was put in place in 2009 in Ohio and expanded in 2013. The law requires all drivers to move over one lane when approaching any vehicle with flashing lights; if moving over isn't possible, drivers are supposed to slow down.
"There's more of us focused on Move Over, slow down," said Lt. Rob Gable, with Ohio Highway Patrol in an interview with News 5’s Tara Molina last week.
RELATED: Ohio Highway Patrol aggressively enforcing 'Move Over' law
The cost of a ticket for not moving over ranges by city, but drivers can face hundreds of dollars in fines and points on their license.
Gable said surrounding states are also taking part in the crackdown: Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
"Officers are out there working in tandem or their working with tow truck drivers or highway drivers watching their back as their doing their work, ensuring people are moving over," Gable said.
Over the past 5 years? Ohio Patrol cruisers, alone, were involved in 58 crashes related to the law. Those crashes resulted in two deaths and 58 injuries, according to Highway Patrol.
"We've seen too many tragedies, especially in this area...even after the project is complete, we will continue enforcing the law," Gable said.
