Florida drivers must now slow down and move over for utility service and sanitation vehicles as part of a new amendment to the state’s Move Over law. The law took effect July 1.
The amendment requires drivers to change lanes or slow down to a speed 20 mph under the posted speed limit when passing utility service or sanitation vehicles parked and working on the side of the road. The law previously applied only to emergency and first responder vehicles and tow trucks.
State Rep. Holly Raschein (R-Key West), who co-sponsored the legislation, says expanding the law is a matter of safety.
“I think any time we can make the workplace, which in this case is the roadway, safer is a pretty good idea,” Raschein says.
Tallahassee City Safety Administrator Jennifer Hill says she thinks the new law will not have a great effect on traffic or road congestion and the change will have a positive impact.
“Although they have been few in the past, and I’m not aware of any fatalities, we have had some injuries, and one injury is really too many,” Hill says, “so I do expect that this will impact, in a good way, our safety record.”
Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Nancy Rasmussen says the state plans to educate residents about the new law, especially through social media.
“We are going to just incorporate those vehicles in the language we use to get everybody aware of the fact that moving over is going to help,” Rasmussen says.
Violators of the new law can be fined various amount that change from county to county and gain points against their driver’s license.
