The month of October is National Slow Down-Move Over Month and Saturday, October 19 was National Move Over Day.

Maryland’s Move Over Law, officially known as the Maryland Move Over Act, requires drivers to move over into an adjacent lane if they are approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with its lights activated on the shoulder of a roadway. If it is not safe or possible to move over, drivers must slow down to a reasonable and prudent speed as they pass the emergency vehicle. This law applies to a wide range of emergency vehicles, including police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, tow trucks, and even highway maintenance vehicles. Failure to adhere to the Move Over Law in Maryland can result in fines and penalties, as it is designed to protect the safety of emergency responders and workers on the roadside. It is important for all drivers to be aware of and follow Move Over Laws in their respective states to help keep everyone safe on the road.

This day is designed to remind all motorists about important highway safety as authorities are trying to break a deadly trend in highway deaths. Quick response to clear incidents is critical to keeping traffic moving. On Maryland highways, it takes police or state highway personnel an average of 12 minutes to arrive at an incident and approximately 23 minutes to reopen the travel lanes. Keeping traffic moving and quickly clearing incidents is dangerous for highway personnel, police, fire and rescue and Hazmat crews. Dozens of first responders are injured on highways every year.

As a reminder, always Move Over into the next lane or slow down when passing emergency responders on the shoulder.

It is Maryland law.