We share the road with other drivers, pedestrians, emergency vehicles and bicyclists all the time. To let others pass is common courtesy. But to specifically let emergency vehicles pass or precede us is legally required, and refusal to do so is considered a violation of the law.
In Tennessee, the law governing emergency vehicles on the road (and violation thereof) is called the “Move Over Law.” It was passed in 2006, “and requires motorists to move over into the adjacent lane of traffic, when safe to do so, or alternatively to slow down for emergency vehicles.” Police officers, firefighters, and paramedics need to get where they’re going as quickly as possible, and utility and maintenance crews (included in the law as of 2011) perform their jobs on the road. The road is a perilous place, and we want to protect everyone and everything on the road, including emergency personnel.
What does the law say?
The statute dictates that drivers are to yield, scoot over to the next traffic lane, and let emergency vehicles to claim their previous lane when lane-changing is safe. This statute also states that when lane-changing is unsafe, drivers are to decrease their speed as emergency vehicles zip past them. On roads with four lanes, drivers are to move over into the far lane when nearing utility vehicles flashing their lights. On roads with only two lanes and when lane-changing is ill-advisable, drivers are to decrease their speed when nearing utility vehicles flashing their lights.
What are the penalties for violating the law?
The penalties for violating the “Move Over” Law perhaps are not as severe as those of other laws; nevertheless, violating this statute is no joke. They are still pretty steep. Violating this statute leads to a fine of up to $500 dollars and as much as a month’s worth of jail time.
If you try to move over for an emergency vehicle and end up in an auto accident that requires you to call for help yourself, you’re going to need a skilled attorney on your side. For more information, contact the Knoxville auto accident attorneys at Banks & Jones, or call 865-546-2141. We can help.
T. Scott knows the importance of interacting with colleagues to stay abreast of developments and changes in the legal world. T. Scott frequently teaches CLE courses on trial strategy, teaching other lawyers his methods for success in the courtroom, and is certified as a Rule 31 Mediator in the Tennessee Supreme Court. He is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the National Trial Lawyers, and both the Tennessee and American Associations for Justice.
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