Mount Olive Township Police Department participating in ‘Move Over Law’ enforcement and awareness campaign
MOUNT OLIVE TOWNSHIP, NJ (Morris County) – Law enforcement officers from the Mount Olive Township Police Department will be participating in the ‘Move Over Law’ Enforcement Campaign sponsored by the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety.
Now through the end of September, this high visibility law enforcement initiative will target motorists who fail to move over for stationary authorized emergency vehicles stopped on the side of the road. Every year, New Jersey’s first responders face a significant danger on the roads, with over 100 motor vehicle crashes occurring annually in which they are struck by moving vehicles while stopped at the roadside.
The New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety reports that since 2010, there have been over 50 incidents where pedestrians were hit by motor vehicles, and a striking 78 percent of these victims were police officers. The remaining 22 percent were comprised of Fire/Rescue, EMS, and tow truck personnel. It is concerning to note that these roadside crashes involving first responders are most common on County roads, closely followed by State Highways in New Jersey.
The Move Over Law (NJSA: 39:92.2) was enacted in 2009 to protect law enforcement, emergency workers, highway maintenance personnel, tow truck operators, and disabled motorists. The law requires motor vehicle operators to reduce their speed and change lanes when approaching authorized vehicles displaying flashing emergency lights or flashing amber lights.
Under the law and when possible, drivers are required to move over to create an empty lane next to the emergency vehicle(s) or disabled vehicle. When changing lanes is not possible, drivers must slow down below the posted speed limit prior to passing emergency or disabled vehicles.
