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.