ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s a common sight along many highways in the Sunshine State: an officer pulling over a driver, or a car crash that moved to the roadside.
It may just seem like good manners to give these vehicles a wide berth, but in the Sunshine State, there’s a little more to it than that.
In Florida, state statutes include a “Move Over” law, which originally went into effect back in 2002.
In short: the law requires that drivers move over a lane when there are any of the following stopped on the side of the road:
- Emergency vehicles
- Service vehicles
- Utility vehicles
- Disabled vehicles
- Parked vehicles with hazard lights flashing
- Emergency flares
- Visible emergency signage
[BELOW: What’s Florida’s updated ‘move over’ law?]
But if you can’t move over, then the rules dictate that you must instead slow down to 20 mph below the posted speed limit. If the speed limit is 20 mph or less, then you must slow down to 5 mph.
According to the FLHSMV, the most likely group to violate the Move Over Act are drivers between the ages of 20 and 29.
That can be a real problem, as violating the law comes with penalties like fines, fees and points on your driving record, state officials say.
“The simple act of moving over gives law enforcement, emergency first responders and other service vehicles adequate space to do their jobs and can greatly increase safety on Florida’s roadways,” the FLHSMV explains.
[BELOW: Is a car with hazard lights on considered part of the Move Over law in Florida?]