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PROVO — As the reality of winter driving conditions approaches, the Utah Highway Patrol is again reminding drivers of the state’s "move over law" by conducting an education and enforcement blitz this week.
The law has been around for several years now. It is designed to make the side of the road safer for emergency responders and those they are stopping to help. While a lot of drivers do a good job moving over one lane when they see flashing lights, some drivers just keep going.
“It doesn’t matter if it is a crash, a traffic stop, a flat tire or an out of gas,” said Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Mark Thompson.
He said drivers must remember to move over one lane as soon as they see flashing lights ahead.
“The idea is to keep everyone safe as we are traveling out there. This law provides one more component to helping motorists, officers, tow drivers, emergency personnel — but you have got to be paying attention and looking ahead,” he added.
Thompson knows what it is like to be hit on the side of the road. His patrol car was totaled two years ago as he was helping at a scene.
Thompson said you’ll only add to the danger by trying to move over at the last second, so it’s critical, he says, to move over as soon as you see the lights. He also added that it’s OK to cross the double white lines of the Express Lane, if you’re moving over or out of the way of an emergency vehicle.
So far, troopers in Utah County have been writing warnings. But all day Friday, several troopers will be working a special enforcement shift on I-15, specifically looking for violators of the law.
