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State law requires motorists to move over or slow down when approaching emergency vehicles with their lights activated.
The Patrol’s Move Over and Slow Down Public Service Announcements use dramatic Patrol car video footage which visually depicts the importance of the Move Over and Slow Down law.
In PSAs, Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt. Christopher Wood and Tpr. William A. Davis remind Ohio motorists to move over or slow down when approaching an emergency vehicle.
Knowledge and compliance of this law is key in protecting the lives of public safety workers on Ohio roadways.
15 second PSA
30 second
PSA
Move Over,
Slow Down video
Sgt. Wood's
patrol car video
Tpr. Davis's
patrol car video
Ohio Revised Code [§ 4511.21.3] § 4511.213 Duties upon
approaching stationary public safety vehicle displaying emergency light.
Text of Statute
(A) The driver of a motor vehicle, upon approaching a stationary public safety vehicle that is displaying a flashing red light, flashing combination red and white light, oscillating or rotating red light, oscillating or rotating combination red and white light, flashing blue light, flashing combination blue and white light, oscillating or rotating blue light, or oscillating or rotating combination blue and white light, shall do either of the following:(1) If the driver of the motor vehicle is traveling on a highway that consists of at least two lanes that carry traffic in the same direction of travel as that of the driver's motor vehicle, the driver shall proceed with due caution and, if possible and with due regard to the road, weather, and traffic conditions, shall change lanes into a lane that is not adjacent to that of the stationary public safety vehicle.(2) If the driver is not traveling on a highway of a type described in division (A)(1) of this section, or if the driver is traveling on a highway of that type but it is not possible to change lanes or if to do so would be unsafe, the driver shall proceed with due caution, reduce the speed of the motor vehicle, and maintain a safe speed for the road, weather, and traffic conditions.
(B) This section does not relieve the driver of a public safety vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons and property upon the highway.
(C) No person shall fail to drive a motor vehicle in compliance with division (A)(1) or (2) of this section when so required by division (A) of this section.
(D) As used in this section, "public safety vehicle" has the same meaning as in section 4511.01 of the Revised Code.
HISTORY: 148 v H 86. Eff 9-28-99.
The effective date is set by section 5 of HB 86.