Ohio:Drivers reminded to move over for law enforcement
The highway patrol is reminding motorists to move over for law enforcement officers.
The Lisbon Post issued a press release stating that from 2011 to 2015 Ohio Highway Patrol cruisers were involved in 67 crashes that appear to be related to the state's Move Over Law. The crashes resulted in the deaths of two civilians, 25 injured officers and 35 injured civilians.
Ohio law requires all drivers to move over to an adjacent lane when approaching any vehicle with flashing or rotating lights parked on the roadside. If moving over is not possible due to traffic or weather conditions, or because a second lane doesn't exist, motorists should slow down and proceed with caution, the patrol said.
According to the FBI, from 2005 to 2014, 97 law enforcement officers across the U.S. were struck by vehicles and killed while working.
Alcohol and/or drugs played a role is 28 percent of move over crashes, and wet roads or those covered in snow or ice accounted for 63 percent of these crashes, the patrol said.
The vast majority of crashes, 79 percent, occurred on interstate, U.S. or state Routes.
Troopers wrote over 10,000 citations for violations of the move over law from 2011 to 2015.
"By moving over, motorists are helping to protect the lives of everyone who works on or uses our roadways," Lt. Less Brode of the Lisbon post said. "It's not just the law; it's the right thing to do."
To view a statistical analysis regarding safe driving awareness month, visit www.statepatrol.ohio.gov/doc/MoveOver_bulletin_2016.pdf.
The patrol requests people call #677 if they see impaired drivers or drug activity.
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