‘Move over’ law highlights safety in hazardous areas

QI absolutely agree with retired CHP officer Gary Lofgren who is critical of the “Move Over” law requiring drivers to move over or slow down if they see vehicles on the side of the highway with their emergency lights on.

Gary hit the nail on the head when he stated the obvious. Anything other than continuing straight ahead might go wrong, adding to the risk. If you do nothing but go straight ahead, doing the expected, there is much less chance of a surprise.

The law might make sense on a lightly traveled rural road but not on busy freeways.

— Bob Lipp,

Los Gatos

AMany others agree, but not all, like Raythe-Tow-Truck-Guy.

QI like the law, but few obey or know or care about it. When I travel in other states, I notice most drivers obey the law.

I move away from any hazard as best I can and always display my lights when stopped in hazardous areas. They say that the lights attract drunks, but I’m more worried about the guy who’s watching a movie while smoking a joint while fighting with his wife while doing everything except paying attention to the road.

I’m amazed at the amount of people who can’t see a big yellow truck with lots of flashing lights.

— Ray-the-Tow-Truck-Guy

AMe, too. Folks, give those emergency vehicles space for your safety and their safety, especially in the rain.

QWhy are there police cars with flashing lights behind Caltrans crews, whether doing road repairs or trash collection?

I am all for protecting those vital workers, but can’t this function be fulfilled by the flashing lights on Caltrans vehicles? Or by using large vehicles like dump trucks or garbage trucks with large, crushable rear apparatus that I see frequently? With shortages of officers everywhere, wouldn’t it be a better use of their valuable time doing important police work, rather than being warning beacons?

— Dean Coleman

ANot necessarily , says Ross-The-CHPMan:

“The CHP shares Caltrans’ concern for safety because, as a department, we know all too well the grief of losing employees doing their job on the side of the road. These preventable tragedies underscore the danger everyone who works alongside the roadway faces on a daily basis.

“The presence of CHP officers in highway work zones serve as a reminder to the motoring public to slow down, observe and obey posted signage, and use care while driving through the work zone. Our officers are actively looking for motorists driving unsafely in highway work zones.”

Plus, most of these CHP patrols are done on overtime.