Body armor, helmets and tasers may be part of law enforcement's standard safety arsenal, but none of these can stop a speeding car, so New Jersey lawmakers in 2009 enacted the "Move Over Law." Unfortunately, only about 58 percent of the Garden State's drivers know about or comply with this law.
According to the New Jersey Department of Public Safety, the "Move Over Law" requires drivers to move over one lane "when approaching stationary emergency vehicles, tow trucks and other highway safety vehicles displaying red, blue and/or amber flashing lights." In situations where it is unsafe to move over, drivers must reduce their speed to below the legal limit prior to passing the emergency vehicles. Vehicle operators should be prepared to stop when necessary.
The law was established following the tragic death of New Jersey State Trooper Marc Castellano. The 29-year-old trooper was searching for fugitives along Interstate 195. After finding and searching their abandoned car, Castellano was struck by a Volkswagen Jetta just before 10 a.m. along the busy highway. He lost his legs at the scene and later died at a nearby hospital.
Over the last decade, 92 New Jersey law enforcement officers were struck and killed by vehicles in the line of duty. In addition, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, this type of accidental injury is the leading cause of death for law enforcement officers across the nation.
Law enforcement personnel are not the only ones impacted by this law. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 390 workers were killed in 2005 because of struck-by accidents. This number accounted for seven percent of all work-related deaths for that year.
State police have posted billboards about the law and set up decoy stops. During the most recent stops, 680 warnings were issued and 183 of these were given along Route 522. Many of the drivers pulled over were either unaware of the law or stated that they did not notice the emergency vehicles stopped along the road.
New Jersey boasts some of the busiest highways in the country, and 2011 has marked a trend in increased highway injuries and fatalities in the state, unlike national trends. An important step in keeping motorists safe is to make sure emergency personnel, roadside workers and law enforcement officers can do their jobs safely. The "Move Over Law" is one way of ensuring the safety of these workers. If you have been injured by an inattentive motorist, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to protect your rights and recover the compensation you deserve.
