Pennsylvania’s Move Over Law
January 20, 2021

The following section is a direct quotation from www.penndot.gov:

THE LAW:
Act 105 of 2020, signed on October 29, 2020 and effective 180 days later on April 27, 2021:

  • Requires drivers approaching an emergency response area who are unable to safely merge into a lane further away from the response area to slow to at least 20 mph less than the posted speed limit.
  • Creates a new point system that imposes
    two points for failure to merge into the lane not next to the emergency response area.
  • Sets fines at $500 for first-time offenders, $1,000 for a second offense, and $2,000 for a third offense.
  • Requires a 90-day license suspension for a third or subsequent offense. The license suspension also applies to incidents that seriously injure or kill another person.
  • Sets additional fines of up to $10,000 for violators who injure or kill an emergency service responder or a person in or near a disabled vehicle.
  • Doubled fines for several traffic violations when committed in an emergency response area when first responders are present.
  • A similar law requires motorists to move over or slow down when approaching a stationary trash or recycling truck.

THE FACTS:
The National Occupational Injury Research Symposium conducted a national study of nonfatal injuries and deaths in the motor vehicle towing industry. The study showed that from 2011 – 2016:

  • 6,400 nonfatal injuries and illnesses occurred in the motor vehicle towing industry.
  • 191 deaths occurred in the motor vehicle towing industry.
  • The leading cause of death were motor vehicle incidents, followed by contact with objects and equipment. Motor vehicle incidents frequently involved workers on the side of the road being struck by passing vehicles

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

  • Of 47 law enforcement officers killed in traffic-related incidents in 2017 [the most recent year for which data is available] 9 officers were struck and killed outside their vehicles.
  • Traffic-related incidents continue to be one of the leading causes of death among on-duty law enforcement officers.