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| Move Over for Emergency Responders | ||
| 12/03/2007 | ||
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Lieutenant Richard Pileggi Oregon State Police - Ontario Office: (541) 889-6469 As Christmas and New Year holidays are approaching, Oregon State Police (OSP) and Malheur County area law enforcement agencies want to remind motorists to expect increased traffic on our highways. With the increased traffic, area law enforcement agencies anticipate more impaired and dangerous drivers that will require more troopers, deputies, officers, and emergency workers along area roads and highways. "We urge travelers to be aware of officers and other emergency services working along the highways," said Senior Trooper Greg Walker from the OSP Ontario Area Command office. "Those officers are working to keep you safe and they want to go home to their family and friends at the end of their shifts. So, please remember to slow down and move over when approaching them on the highways." According to the "National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) 2006 End of Year Report" there is an alarming increase in officer fatalities due to traffic crashes. Both in 2005 and 2006, the number of traffic-related deaths was greater than the number of deaths by gunshot. In 2006, 145 officers were killed in the line of duty. Of those, 71 lost their lives in traffic related incidents. Over the past 30 years, shooting deaths have declined by 36 percent while the number of officers killed in automobile-related incidents has risen by 40 percent. Oregon is one of several states to have a "Move Over Law". It states that if you are driving up behind any type of police car or emergency vehicle pulled over on the roadside with emergency lights flashing, you must:
Violation of the "Move Over Law" is a class B traffic violation that can cost drivers up to $355.00. "The ‘Move Over Law' is in place to help protect law enforcement officers and emergency workers from dangerous and inattentive drivers, but the law also exists to protect you" Senior Trooper Walker said. A link to the new "Move Over Law" brochure developed by ODOT's Transportation Safety Division is available on the OSP web site. ### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
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