FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                        

March 13, 2009                                                                      

Sterling Police, Fire and Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Warn Drivers to “Move Over”

 Sterling, MA – In an effort to keep Massachusetts roadways safer, the Sterling Police Department , Fire Department and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) are raising awareness for the state’s new Move Over Law and promoting safe driving across the Commonwealth.  

The new law, which takes effect on March 22, 2009, is meant to help protect police, firefighters, paramedics, tow truck drivers, and all roadside emergency and maintenance workers. The law requires all drivers approaching a stationary emergency or maintenance vehicle with flashing lights to move to the next adjacent lane if it is safe to do so, and, barring that, to reduce their speed. Violating the Move Over Law can be expensive as well as dangerous as failure to comply could result in a fine of up to $100. 

“We ask that all drivers in Sterling and across Massachusetts take a moment to slow down and move over - if it safe to do so - if they see an officer, emergency responder or maintenance vehicle stopped on the side of the road,” said Police Chief Chamberland. “This is just a common sense law, when drivers see flashing lights they need to slow down and be aware of their surroundings. Accident scenes are chaotic situations with ambulance personnel tending to injured persons, tow truck operators trying to clear the roads, debris scattered about and police officers conducting investigations. All this going on while trying to maintain the flow of traffic.”

Every year, first responders across the country are injured or killed while providing emergency roadside help. In the past six months alone, several Massachusetts state troopers have been injured on the job. According to the Merit Rating Board, in 2008 there were nearly 2000 violations of the Chapter 89 law which deals with obstructing emergency vehicles including failure to yield and following too closely.

For more information, go to www.mass.gov/safety/moveover.