What happened last month when I asked you to take a thirty-second break and close your eyes?  If you were seated comfortably at your desk at work, you may have been tempted to try it.  However, if you were one of the thousands of men and women who work our nation’s highways, taking thirty-seconds to close your eyes could never happen.  Even five-seconds could mean a matter of life and death.  So, this month, my question goes out to the thousands of men and women who work our nation’s highways…

If you could tell motorists across the U.S. one thing, what would it be? 

Think about your answer before hitting “reply” or sending your response via our contact page because…Next month, I am going to share your responses.  I will, of course, not include your name.  Please, take a minute or two to choose your words carefully.  Remember, we have a lot of folks in the media that will be reading your responses.  Forward this month’s update to everyone you know who is in law enforcement, emergency and public service.  We want motorists to hear from you.  Your words could save your life.

Last month I also asked if you were aware of any Move Over Law educational efforts where you live.  Here is some of the information that I received:

The state of Virginia will begin posting “Move Over” signs statewide.

http://www.tricities.com/tristate/tri/search.apx.-content-articles-TRI-2008-03-20-0013.html

http://www.tricities.com/tristate/tri/search.apx.-content-articles-TRI-2008-03-20-0013.html

The John Petropoulos Memorial Fund in Canada (www.jpmf.ca) has begun a “Driving for Change” campaign!

http://www.jpmf.ca/drivingforchange 

North Carolina State Highway Patrol’s Trooper Garrett Barger and his friend, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. designed a Move Over Law educational poster that will be available in the coming months.  There is a chance we may have posters available signed by Dale, Jr. that will be auctioned on EBay to help raise funds for Families for Roadside Safety (FORS).  We will keep you posted!  Additionally, thanks to Trooper Barger’s hard work, the posters may soon be found on several billboards across North Carolina.  FORS has agreed to assist with funding of a few of the billboards.  Your donations can help us provide even more!  We will agree that if the signed posters are available for auction, that the money raised will go towards the vinyl printing for these billboards ($300/each).

Kudos to the state of Florida!!..The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has established a statewide Move Over Law Task Force!  Last month the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles hosted a Move Over Law Workshop to focus on new strategies and methods to educate the motoring public about the law and to plan enforcement initiatives to ensure compliance. The workshop included representatives from the Florida Police Chiefs Association, the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Department of Transportation, the Florida Trucking Association, the Emergency Medical Services Union and AAA.  What a wonderful role model that HSMV will be for the rest of the country. 

Finally, an update on Move Over Laws across the United States:   

South Carolina is currently working to amend their law with higher fines and penalties… http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess117_2007-2008/bills/4622.htm

Nebraska has introduced a bill (LB 786) to pass a Move Over Law. This is the 2^nd or 3^rd year that a bill has been introduced in Nebraska.  Although the previous bills did not pass, educational efforts were still done…

http://nebraskalegislature.gov/web/public/home

Maryland…It breaks my heart to say this, but for the umpteenth year in a row, it looks like Maryland’s Move Over Law bill will not succeed.  HB 255, HB 1263, and SB 454 were all reported unfavorably and no action was taken on HB 131.  These can be found under the title “Emergency and Police Vehicle and Personnel Protection Act” at: http://mlis.state.md.us/2008rs/subjects/traffir$.htm

If you have any information on Move Over Law educational efforts or changes to your state’s Move Over Law, please let us know.

As always, Move Over & Slow Down for Stopped Emergency & Public Service Vehicles…Our lives depend on it.

LET’S GO RACING!!!!!….

On Monday, May 19^th, Families for Roadside Safety along with AAA Carolinas will be hosting a Move Over Law awareness day at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway!  We are still working on details for the event, and will keep you posted as plans come into place.  We look forward to seeing all of you from the Concord-Charlotte area and beyond!  It will be a day that will truly save hundreds, if not thousands, of lives.  Thank you to the Lowe’s Motor Speedway for opening your gates to us and thank you to AAA Carolinas for opening your arms!

I am currently recovering from shoulder surgery that I had two weeks ago, so I will need to keep this month’s update brief.  The following are a few items that I wanted to be sure to mention:

First, an update on national move over laws.  At one point, we had New Hampshire listed on our list of states with a Move Over Law.  However, after looking at the law more closely with the folks at AAA, we have taken New Hampshire off of the list.  To see view the specifics of each state’s Move Over Law, please go to http://www.f-o-r-s.com/home/moveoverlaws and go to the bottom of the page and click on AAA Slow Down Move Over logo.  However, if you have current information that is different from the information you find, please let us know so we can look into it.  The NH law does not require motorists to vacate a lane closest to the incident, but to only do so if the lane is wholly or partially blocked.

Second, as the result of recent tragedies in Wisconsin, three women have decided to begin promoting the Move Over Law in their state.  One is the sister-in-law of Deputy Tim Johnson who was struck one year ago.  Tim was not expected to survive, but is back to work protecting others!  We will be providing you with more information about their efforts in the coming months.  If you are from the Wisconsin area and what to assist these wonderful ladies, please let me know and I will put you in contact with them.

Third, our friends with Responder Safety would like to help you establish a traffic control unit for your agency.  To download their free manual and learn how, please visit www.respondersafety.com.

Finally, on Monday, February 11th, FOX Carolina, the FOX news outlet out of Greenville, SC, will be running a story called Move Over Undercover Investigation during their 10pm broadcast.  It will be split in two 3-minute segments during the 10pm broadcast.  The story will also be available on their website on February 12th… www.foxcarolina.com  Cody Alcorn, a reporter from FOX Carolina, and I had met this past fall when the Henderson County, NC Sheriffs Office and the Greenville County, SC Sheriffs Office did a joint effort to educate motorists about Move Over Laws.  Cody has worked hard to put together the upcoming story and we know it will truly save lives. 

Please, MOVE OVER & SLOW DOWN FOR STOPPED EMERGENCY AND PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES.  The lives you save might be your own.