A practice
that is old-hat to truckers is going over like a lead balloon
for Florida motorists. State officials say drivers aren't heeding
a new law to protect law enforcement and emergency workers stopped
on roadsides.
The "Move
Over" law - which went into effect July 1 - requires drivers
to change lanes or slow down when approaching emergency vehicles.
Fifteen states have similar laws.
Cops say
major arteries that don't offer much room on roadsides are particular
"nightmare spots" for law enforcement and emergency
workers. The biggest problem is drivers tend to "zone out"
and either pay no attention to emergency vehicles or too much.
When approaching
a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights on a road with
more than two lanes, motorists must move out of the lane closest
to the emergency vehicle, according to the new law. On two-lane
roads, approaching vehicles must slow to 20 mph below the posted
speed limit.
The law's
three-month grace period began last month. Starting Oct. 1, drivers
risk an $86 fine and a citation if caught violating the law.
