Road Rants: Drivers ignore wider ‘move over’ law

Oregon drivers have had several months to adjust to new traffic laws that took effect on Jan 1. But it seems that not everyone is keeping up with the changes.

Most people know they should move over a lane or slow down if they see a law enforcement officer making a traffic stop or helping a driver on the side of the road.

But they might be surprised to know there’s more to the move over law, and they could be breaking it.

“It seems like everyone is in such a hurry nowadays. It’s like nobody wants to just slow down and merge over,” said Sass Fisher, the owner and operator of Bulldog Towing.

Fisher knows the feeling of vulnerability that being stuck on the roadside creates, because he experiences it day in and day out.

“If a semi goes by, or even a pickup, doing 65 (mph), you can actually feel the wind, and it will actually push you off the side,” he said. “That’s just the wind force. Imagine if that vehicle actually touched you.”

The move over law first protected police officers conducting routine traffic stops. Later, it expanded to cover roadside assistance vehicles and tow trucks. Then the Oregon Department of Transportation introduced a bill that increased the scope even more.

“There actually have been more fatalities involving general motorists on the side of the road, as opposed to law enforcement officers,” said ODOT spokesman Peter Murphy. “So we measured from 2011 to 2015, and in that time, eight motorists died, whereas only five law enforcement people died. So it’s a problem that exists beyond the law enforcement community, into the general motorist community, and that’s what we’re trying to resolve.”

Now the law covers all motorists.

“It’s now required that everybody pull over for any kind of incident that’s happening on the side of the road where it looks like there’s some kind of emergency going on,” Murphy said.

Here’s how it works: If you see an emergency vehicle, or any car on the side of the road, showing signs of distress, which can be anything from emergency flashers to a popped hood, you are required to move over a lane, if it’s safe — and if not, slow down by at least 5 mph below the posted speed limit.

“I think it’s a great thing,” Fisher said, “I think a law is only as good as the people who actually follow it, and the people that actually know about it.”

So, do they? NewsChannel 21 came across a vehicle broken down on the side of the road with hazard lights on. We counted the passing vehicles. Out of 100 vehicles that passed and had the opportunity to move over, 13 of them did — and 87 did not.

The driver, Trevor Wright, did everything he was supposed to do when his tire blew. “I popped it. I pulled over. I immediately turned on my hazards, so it would make sure, clear as day, I have an issue,” he said.

Wright said he felt his truck being pushed into him as he changed his tire, but said he’s not surprised so few people moved over.

“Nobody moves. Nobody ever gets over,” he said.

According to the Oregon State Police, during the first quarter of 2017, 219 drivers were cited for violating the move over law. In the first quarter of 2018, that number more than doubled, to 459. A ticket will carry a fine of $265 up to $525, and probably won’t be worth the time saved by not slowing down.

“What’s it going to take, 20 seconds, to get by? What’s that in the big scheme of things? It’s nothing. It’s a half a sip of coffee, and that’s it. And it literally could save someone’s life,” Fisher said.

A related issue: What to do if you’re approaching or in a roundabout and hear sirens and see flashing lights in the rear view mirror. Bend Fire Battalion Chief Dave Howe said it’s simple: Keep going, and don’t stop or try to pull over. Take the first exit, or go all the way around, but let those emergency vehicles through.