New Hampshire's Department of Transportation reports that major traffic incidents and close calls on highways have prompted them to alert the public to the the fact that it it mandatory for drivers to obey the state's "Move Over" law when they see law enforcement vehicles pulled over with their emergency lights on.
The law says drivers should reduce speed and give a wide berth without endangering oncoming traffic to public safety officers and their vehicles with blue, red, or amber emergency or warning lights. On Aug. 10, a state police cruiser was rear-ended by a car on Interstate 89 in Grantham while a trooper was outside checking on an abandoned vehicle. Earlier this summer, a state transportation survey truck parked on the shoulder of the Laconia Bypass was struck by a car not far away from where a crew was working. Emergency lights were flashing.
According to officials, state police cruisers who are on the scene of crashes and off to the side of the road, have been hit by other cars, despite having their emergency lights activated.
They’re reminding drivers of the state’s so-called “move over” law, which requires drivers to slow down and take other steps when approaching any emergencies, including crashes, or police vehicles involved in traffic stops.
According to the https://www.nh.gov website:
When in or approaching an incident involving a fire, collision, disaster, or other emergency resulting in partial or complete blockage of a highway, or a location where a police officer has made a traffic stop, every driver other than the driver of an emergency response vehicle, shall:
I. Maintain a reduced speed.
II. Obey the directions of any authorized person directing traffic and of all applicable emergency signals and traffic control devices.
III. Vacate as soon as possible any lane wholly or partially blocked.
IV. Give a wide berth, without endangering oncoming traffic, to public safety personnel, any persons in the roadway, and stationary vehicles displaying blue, red, or amber emergency or warning lights.
