Move Over law to get education campaign

The Albemarle County Police Department has partnered with Albemarle County Fire and Rescue, the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad and Monticello Media to administer an education campaign about Virginia’s Move Over law, citing a growing problem in the response to emergency vehicles by area drivers.

Virginia is one of 40 states with such a law. According to state law, drivers must yield to stationary emergency vehicles, and drivers are required to slow down while passing any emergency vehicle that is stopped displaying flashing lights. If on a four-lane highway or larger, drivers are required to change lanes away from the emergency vehicle.

According to an Albemarle police news release, in the last two years nationwide 15 law enforcement officers were hit and killed by passing motorists while standing outside of their vehicles.

More information about the law can be found at the Virginia State Police Web site at http://www.vsp.virginia.gov and http://www.moveoveramerica.com.