#MOVEOVER ON VIRGINIA ROADWAYS
Today, we will look at another health and safety issue that is of great concern to public safety personnel. Safety on our roadways is paramount as we respond to traffic incidents across the Commonwealth. Numerous incident have occurred nationwide and right here in Virginia where response apparatus and personnel have been struck while operating at Traffic incidents.
The Virginia General Assembly recognizes June 2019 as Move Over Awareness Month in honor of Lieutenant Bradford Turner Clark. Lt. Clark was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer while he was outside of his fire truck responding to a crash on I-295. He was honored at the 2019 Virginia Fallen Firefighter & EMS Memorial Service on June 1, 2019 and has been recognized by a number of organizations in Virginia for his sacrifice.
- Video: Slow Down. Move Over.
During #MoveOver Month, we’re urging you to move over when you see flashing blue, red or amber lights on Virginia’s highways. Please give first responders and law enforcement officers room to do their jobs; move over and slow down. Remember, it’s the law.
Virginia law states that when approaching a stationary vehicle that is displaying flashing blue, red or amber lights, drivers shall:
- Proceed with caution and, if reasonable, yield the right of way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the stationary vehicle or:
- If changing lanes would be unreasonable or unsafe, proceed with due caution and maintain a safe speed for highway conditions.
Read the Senate Joint Resolution No. 286, which recognizes June 2019 as Move Over Awareness Month in honor of Lieutenant Bradford Turner Clark and learn more about the Move Over law in Virginia.
Additional resources are available at:
If your agency has not done so, we encourage you to participate in The FHWA -SHRP2 National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training Program. The following video contains information about the program and contact information to have the training delivered to your agency is available at the VASTIM website listed above or you may contact Briant Atkins, Chief Safety Officer at VDFP at 804-249-2173 or briant.atkins@vdfp.virginia.gov.