state by state list of its “move over” law

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by SteveBausch, May 3, 2019.

  1. SteveBausch

    SteveBausch Light Load Member

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    Just passing by and speedyk Thank this.
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  3. Id say its more for the 4wheeler population, If you have been in a semi any length of time you learn that courtesy from being on the road.
    Ive moved over since my rookie years in trucking, even do it in car. Its a shame they need to ticket people now to get it in their heads.
     
  4. The Gels

    The Gels Light Load Member

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    I've done this in any vehicle I've ever driven since I got my license at 15. It seems like common sense to me.
     
  5. Majestic 670

    Majestic 670 Heavy Load Member

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    i never move over I'll pass em doing the speed limit
     
  6. SteveBausch

    SteveBausch Light Load Member

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    There are subtle differences in each state's law. And there is the interpretation, and then the implementation, and last, but not the least, there is the understanding of the Authority Having Jurisdiction (that would be the nice policeman talking to you).

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    NOTE: I assume AAA will tolerate this posting; this list is something AAA has created, couldn't find it elsewhere.
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    Alabama

    State law requires drivers approaching stationary emergency vehicles that are displaying flashing lights, including wreckers, or utility vehicles displaying flashing lights traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do so, or to slow to at least 15mph less than the posted speed limit. Also included in the law are municipal vehicles, utility vehicles, and Department of Transportation vehicles displaying flashing lights.

    Alaska
    State law requires drivers approaching stationary emergency vehicles that are displaying flashing flights, including tow trucks, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do so, or to slow to a speed reasonable and prudent for traffic, road, and weather conditions. Also included in the law are road maintenance and animal control vehicles.

    Arizona
    State law requires drivers to reduce speed and, if safe to do so, vacate the lane closest to any stationary vehicles with flashing or warning lights, including emergency vehicles and tow trucks.

    Arkansas
    State law requires drivers approaching stationary emergency response vehicles that are displaying flashing lights, including wreckers or tow vehicles, traveling in the same direction, to move to the farthest lane from the vehicle if safe and possible to do so, or to slow to a speed appropriate for road and weather conditions. Also included in the law are utility vehicles.

    California
    State law requires drivers to slow down and vacate the lane closest to a stationary emergency response vehicle flashing emergency lights if safe to do so. This includes tow trucks and Caltrans vehicles if displaying flashing amber warning lights, as well as waste service vehicles.

    Colorado
    State law requires drivers approaching stationary emergency vehicles that are displaying flashing lights, including tow trucks, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest, if safe and possible to do so, or to reduce to a speed safe for weather, road, and traffic conditions. Also included in the law are utility vehicles and road maintenance vehicles.

    Connecticut
    State law requires drivers approaching one or more emergency vehicles, including tow trucks, that are stationary or traveling significantly below the speed limit, to reduce speed to a reasonable level below the posted speed limit and, if safe and reasonable to do so, vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle. Drivers approaching one or more stationary nonemergency vehicles are required to, if safe and reasonable to do so, vacate the lane closest to the stationary vehicle.

    Delaware
    When approaching a stationary emergency vehicle, public utility vehicle, or tow truck with flashing lights, motorists traveling in the same direction are required to move to a lane not adjacent to the vehicle and reduce speed.

    District of Columbia
    The District of Columbia has no move over law.

    Florida
    State law requires drivers to reduce speed to 20mph less than the posted speed limit and, if safe to do so, vacate the lane closest to stationary emergency vehicles, including towing and recovery vehicles, when traveling in the same direction. If such movement cannot be safely accomplished, the driver shall reduce speed. Also included in the law are municipal vehicles and utility vehicles.

    Georgia
    State law requires drivers approaching stationary emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights, including towing and recovery vehicles, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do so, or slow below the posted speed limit to a speed reasonable for road and traffic conditions. Also included in the law are utility vehicles and road maintenance vehicles.

    Hawaii
    State law requires drivers approaching stationary emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights, including tow trucks, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do so (and if possible move two lanes over), and slow to a speed that is safe, reasonable, and prudent.

    Idaho
    State law requires drivers traveling in the same direction to slow below the posted speed limit and vacate the lane closest to a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights if safe to do so. This includes tow trucks, wreckers, and other recovery vehicles.

    Illinois
    State law requires drivers approaching stationary emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights, including towing and recovery vehicles, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do so, or slow to a safe speed. Also included in the law are disabled vehicles.

    Indiana
    State law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights, including towing and recovery vehicles, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do so, or reduce speed at least 10mph below the speed limit. Also included in the law are municipal vehicles, utility vehicles, and road maintenance vehicles.

    Iowa
    State law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights, including towing and recovery vehicles, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do so, or slow to a reasonable speed for road and traffic conditions. Also included in the law are municipal vehicles, utility vehicles, road maintenance vehicles, stationary construction vehicles, and any other stationary vehicles displaying emergency hazards flashing simultaneously.

    Kansas
    State law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights, including towing and recovery vehicles, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do so, or slow to a speed safe for road, weather, and traffic conditions. The law also applies to waste collection vehicles.

    Kentucky
    State law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights, including towing and recovery vehicles, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do so, or slow to a speed safe for road, weather, and traffic conditions.

    Louisiana
    State law requires drivers approaching any stationary emergency vehicle, including tow trucks, displaying flashing lights and traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if possible to do so, or slow to a reasonably safe speed.

    Maine
    State law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights, including towing and recovery vehicles, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do so, or to slow to a safe and reasonable speed. Also included in the law are utility vehicles.

    Maryland
    State law requires drivers traveling in the same direction and approaching a stopped emergency vehicle using flashing lights, including tow trucks or service vehicles, to change into a lane not immediately adjacent to the vehicle, if possible, or to slow to a speed safe for weather, road, and traffic conditions. Also included in the law are municipal vehicles, such a waste or recycling vehicles.

    Massachusetts
    Drivers traveling in the same direction and approaching a stationary emergency vehicle, highway maintenance vehicle, or tow or recovery vehicle with flashing lights must slow down to a safe speed and, if practicable, move to a non-adjacent lane.

    Michigan
    State law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights, including towing and recovery vehicles, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do so, or to slow to a speed safe for weather, road and traffic conditions. The law also includes stationary solid waste collection, utility service, or road maintenance vehicles.

    Minnesota
    State law requires drivers traveling in the same direction to reduce speed and, if safe to do so, vacate the lane closest to stationary emergency vehicles using flashing lights, including towing and recovery vehicles, utility vehicles, and road maintenance, and construction vehicles.
     
    Last edited: May 3, 2019
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  7. SteveBausch

    SteveBausch Light Load Member

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    Mississippi
    State law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights, including towing and recovery vehicles, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do so, or slow to a speed safe for road conditions. Also included in the law are utility vehicles, municipal vehicles, and road maintenance vehicles.


    Missouri
    State law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights, including towing and recovery vehicles, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do so, or slow to a speed safe for road conditions.


    Montana
    State law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights, including towing and recovery vehicles, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do so, or slow to a safe speed. If on a highway with a speed limit 50mph or greater, the driver must slow by at least 20mph below the posted speed limit.


    Nebraska
    A driver approaching a stopped emergency vehicle, including tow trucks, with flashing lights and traveling in the same direction to vacate the lane closest to the vehicle or reduce speed and maintain a safe speed while passing the vehicle. If vacating the closest lane is not possible, a driver must slow to a safe speed. Also included in the law are utility vehicles.


    Nevada
    State law requires drivers traveling in the same direction to reduce speed below the posted speed limit and, if safe and possible to do so, vacate the lane closest to stationary emergency vehicles and tow vehicles displaying flashing lights.


    New Hampshire
    State law requires drivers approaching a crash or emergency area to slow to a safe speed and give wide berth to stationary emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights, including towing, recovery, and highway maintenance vehicles.


    New Jersey
    Motor vehicles approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle, tow truck, highway maintenance or emergency service vehicle displaying flashing lights and traveling in the same direction must move over to a non-adjacent lane if possible, or slow down.


    New Mexico
    State law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle or a recovery or repair vehicle, including tow trucks, to slow down and vacate the lane next to the stopped vehicle, if they are able. If drivers are not able to move over, they are required to slow down and be prepared to stop.


    New York
    Drivers traveling in the same direction must exercise due care, include moving from a lane immediately adjacent, and reducing speed, to avoid colliding with a vehicle parked, stopped, or standing on the shoulder or any portion of the highway when the vehicle is an authorized emergency response, tow truck, or maintenance vehicle with its lights flashing.


    North Carolina
    State law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights, including towing and recovery vehicles, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do so, or slow to a safe speed. Also included in the law are utility vehicles, municipal vehicles, and road maintenance vehicles.


    North Dakota
    State law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights, including wreckers and highway maintenance vehicles, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do so, or slow to a safe speed.


    Ohio
    State law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights, including road service vehicles, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest to if safe and possible to do so, or slow to a speed safe for road, weather, and traffic conditions. Also included in the law are road maintenance and waste collection vehicles.


    Oklahoma
    State law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights, including wreckers, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do, or slow to a speed safe for road, weather, and traffic conditions. Also included in the law are road maintenance vehicles.


    Oregon
    State law requires drivers approaching any stationary vehicle displaying warning or flashing lights, including roadside assistance and tow vehicles, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do so, or to reduce speed to at least 5 mph under the posted speed limit.


    Pennsylvania
    State law requires drivers approaching an emergency response area, including areas in which a tow truck is offering assistance, to pass in a non-adjacent lane if safe and possible to do so, or slow to a safe speed. Also included in the law are utility vehicles within the first 72 hours after a declared emergency or until the expiration of a declared emergency, whichever is later.


    Rhode Island
    State law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights, including roadside assistance vehicles, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest if safe and possible to do so, and slow to a safe speed. Also included in the law are road maintenance vehicles.


    South Carolina
    State law requires drivers to reduce speed and, if safe to do so, vacate the lane closest to stationary emergency vehicles, including tow trucks and recovery vehicles.


    South Dakota
    State law requires drivers to reduce speed and vacate the lane closest to official emergency vehicles, including tow trucks and wreckers.


    Tennessee
    State law requires drivers approaching a stationary authorized emergency, utility vehicle, municipal vehicle, road maintenance vehicle, or a tow truck or recovery vehicle, displaying flashing lights and traveling in the same direction, to reduce speed and, if safe to do so, vacate the lane closest to the vehicles.


    Texas
    State law requires drivers approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle, including a tow truck and TX DMV vehicles and workers, using approved visual signals, and traveling in the same direction, to reduce speed (not to exceed 20 mph less than a posted speed limit of 25 mph or more, or not more than five mph when the posted speed limit under 25 mph) and vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicles.


    Utah
    State law requires drivers approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle, tow truck or highway maintenance vehicle displaying flashing lights, and traveling in the same direction, to reduce speed and, if safe to do so, vacate the lane closest to stationary vehicles.

     
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  8. SteveBausch

    SteveBausch Light Load Member

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    Vermont
    State law requires drivers approaching a stationary law enforcement vehicle, ambulance, fire fighting vehicle, a vehicle used in rescue operations, or a towing and repair vehicle displaying signal lamps, and traveling in the same direction, to reduce speed and, if safe to do so, vacate the lane closest to the stationary vehicles.


    Virginia
    State law requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle, including a tow truck, that is displaying a flashing lights and traveling in the same direction to vacate the lane closest to the stationary vehicle if safe to do so, or slow to a speed safe for highway conditions. Also included in the law are road maintenance and utility vehicles.


    Washington
    State law requires drivers to vacate the lane closest to stationary emergency vehicles, including tow trucks, if they are traveling in the same direction and it is safe to do so. If not, drivers are required to slow down and may not exceed the speed limit within 200 feet before and after a stationary emergency vehicle that has its flashing lights activated.


    West Virginia
    State law requires drivers approaching and traveling in the same direction as a stationary authorized emergency vehicle, including a tow truck, displaying flashing lights, to change to a non-adjacent lane if safe to do so, or to slow to no more than 15 mph on a non-divided highway or 25 mph on a divided highway.


    Wisconsin
    State law requires drivers traveling in the same direction and approaching an authorized emergency vehicle or roadside service vehicle, including a tow truck, that is displaying flashing lights and parked or standing on or within 12 feet of a roadway, to vacate the lane closest to the stationary vehicle, if safe to do so, or reduce speed. Also included in the law are utility vehicles and road maintenance vehicles.


    Wyoming
    State law requires drivers approaching an official stationary emergency vehicle making use of appropriate visual signals, including tow trucks, to merge into the lane farthest from the vehicle when traveling in the same direction, if safe to do so, or to slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit. Also included in the law are municipal, utility, and road maintenance vehicles.



    Copyright © 2019 AAA/CAA Digest of Motor Laws •All Rights Reserved •Privacy Policy

    NOTE: I assume AAA will tolerate this posting; this list is something AAA has created, couldn't find it elsewhere.
    PLEASE BECOME A MEMBER OF AAA IF YOU APPRECIATE THIS LIST!
    At least for a year :)
     
    Flat Earth Trucker and speedyk Thank this.
  9. DenBob

    DenBob Light Load Member

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    Odd...no mention of abandoned Dodge Stratuses (Strati ?) there. I think we're doing it wrong.
     
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  10. SteveBausch

    SteveBausch Light Load Member

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    Indianapolis, Indiana
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    My personal recollection of playing it safe and moving over, though not required by law:

    Northbound on I-69, from Indy, and there's a truck on the right shoulder. I move over to the fast lane, and as I pass the truck, the driver loses his footing while looking at the engine, and executes a right face, and lands with both feet in the traffic lane. Looked like an action figure, with his hands up in the air. His expression was more like "Oh Oh!" not so much as "ready for anything!",

    I was grateful I moved over, even though I wasn't obligated.
     
  11. mustang190

    mustang190 Road Train Member

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    Law? I have done it for over 40 years. I look at it as common courtesy. Something that’s in short supply these days.
     
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