New NYS Move over for Police law scares me
 

They recently came out with a new law in New York where if you see a police officer involved in a road stop on the shoulder ,, You should move over into the fast lane if possible. I completely understand the reason yet if I was a police officer I would be pretty un comfortable with this. Reason being most accidents happen because people are not paying attention where someone might hit the back of the car or the officer themselves. But I think that it should be considered much more likely that an accident be caused down steam of traffic by people trying to change lanes, and involving the police officer.
I wonder what others think of this, especially an officer.
I know the law states, "when possible" but people can be really bad at reacting to the situation , slowing down hard,, turning down the radio,,Trying to get over abruptly and causing an accident. Hopefully I am wrong and just worry too much. And do they have this law in other states???

They have a similar law in my state.

I think you worry too much.:)

The same in Florida.

And the 'fast' lane is usually the slower lane here.
(at least all the old people run there at about half the speed limit)

:(

I think it's a pretty common law, Minnesota has it as well. It's really common sense - move over if possible to do safely, and if not stay in your lane and slow down. Emergency and police vehicles get hit more often than you may think.

Yeah same here. Switch lanes or slow down to like 25.

Seems to work out pretty good here, if you cannot move over, slowing is just as acceptable.
BUT: they pull stings now & then just for revenue enhancement & I this has the potential to cause accidents. Pretty much a douche move.

You've got to be kidding me. I Move left when I see a broken down heap in the emergency lane. When I get so comatose I can't switch lanes without causing a pile up I'll let my wife drive or take Greyhound.

Been a law here in Georgia for a few years with no problems. They extended it this year to include utility workers; electric, gas, etc. We'll see how that one goes.

Ohio and Indiana have the same law. No problems.

Eric

Same law in Missouri. I drive a semi and sometimes you can't get over. I slow down and turn on the 4 ways.

It's law here in Virginia also.I think it is a good idea,but was recently involved in the bad side of it as mentioned above.There was an older gentleman pulling a 22-25ft tag-a-long camper and just as he got to officer in emergency lane he decided he needed to move to left lane no matter what.He wasn't clear the car in left lane(the one I'm following,lol),so we make sudden 70mph to 30mph brake to avoid rear ending camper.Luckily we did(& didn't get rear ended,was heavy traffic too),but I was telling the old guy that the law states "make an attempt to move over",& "it's to avoid accidents not create them" I was a lil jacked up on adrenaline by then,lol ... Also Tn just passed a law for those that want to run in left lane all the time.If slower than right lane traffic,they will be ticketed.Hope Virginia adopts this one soon.Maybe Fla. will someday?


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"Slow down you move too fast"..."feeling groovy" is part of an old Simon $ Garfunkle tune..see lights or an "official vehicle" on side of the road..move over, be safe, and go on down the road.

If where you are living is causing too much stress due to perceived repression my humble suggestion is to move to anyone of the other 49 States of the Union...seriously life is too short.

Washington passed this law a few years ago and it has caused more accidents. I get the reason for it, but people need to use something most don't have. Commen sense!!! The worst part is the Washington State Patrol will have several vehichles pulled over on left and right side of freeway causing a serious problem! STUPID STUPID STUPID!!!

Same law here in TN also.

Umm... If I were to drive right at the speed limit in the left lane of major highways here, EVERY vehicle in the right lane would pass me. So I'm the one to get ticketed?:confused:

Alberta's law has us slow down to 60km/h from 100 if the lane is close to the officer. So changing lanes to avoid slowing down is common. Have not heard of any issues with it other then folks complaining about getting a ticket for doing 40 over the speed limit......

Been A law here in NYS for a few years with no problem. I've been driving for 45 yrs and always have pulled into the left lane when I see any vehicle stopped on the right shoulder. Unfortunately we had to make a law for the moron drivers to pull over into the left lane if they see a Police Car with the lights activated. Most still will fly by a disabled vehicle without changing lanes.

It isn't that I disagree with the law for its intended purpose,, It is the expectations of situations like this making things more dangerous ,, Of course if everyone was considerate it wouldn't be in question. People tend to over react where police are involved, especially young in experienced drivers and old paranoid ones. I was thinking a slow down law would be safer, but if this is how it is all across the country I guess my theory is wrong,. Thanks for the feedback

I dont know how anyone can say this doesnt cause problems . Almost everytime I see a officer with llights on and a car pulled over theres morons over reacting slamming on their brakes and cutting people off .

I agree!

They need a law to stop anyone that slams their brakes on and swerves in front of you.

:(

Especially the ones flying (speeding) down the road, then they see a cop on the side of the road, and pull in front of you then slam their brakes on to try and avoid the radar.
(this is usually right in front of the cop car too)

Thing is the cop has already radared them by the time the car sees the cop.

:(

Professional drivers always move over to give anyone on either berm a wider berth. It's a common sense action that doesn't have to be legislated by laws, except for those that need to be told to come in out of the rain by someone else.................:D

Anyone, that wants to perfect and hone their driving skills should look into the Smith driving system. If everyone on the roads would take this course the driving commutes we all make would be a lot less stressful. i don't care how long you've been driving, the Smith system will undoubtedly make you a better driver. Anyone that has children coming of driving age would do well to get their kids one of these driving instruction courses.

The video system is $185, be the best 185 dollars spent to make a younger, or an older driver much safer for themselves and others they are sharing the road with.


https://www.drivedifferent.com/

Those morons were doing that long before laws were enacted to promote officer safety.

Those morons probably aren't even aware of the law requiring them to slow down and/or move over.

Same here in MA. I'm surprised that NY didn't have this law yet.

It aint rocket science, if you see a LEO just move over a lane. If you cant make it over, slow down a little.

It is only common sense that you move over when you see an officer making a stop on the side of the road. How would you feel if some fool came by you at 70mph when your standing only a few feet from a car. I use to be a cop & I can tell you it's not fun to have someone come speeding by you having their car only a few feet from your back or side at a high rate of speed. You would have to be an idiot not to slow down & move over when you see someone anyone on the side of the road. Most of these comments are extremely stupid. If you have to be told to move over when you see someone on the side of the road weather it be an officer or someone stopped for any reason then you probably shouldn't be driving. It shouldn't matter young or old driver when your driving you don't try to come as close to the driver as you can you move over to give them some space. Your not alone on the road, so don't drive like it. Don't make excuse's why you shouldn't move over just make the effort & give the other driver a break. If you don't you may be the next driver to rear end someone on a road & then lying in a hospital bed you'll be the one wondering how your going to explain to the judge why you hit someone & killed them because you were to self indulged to move over a few feet to save a life. Think of that for awhile. It shouldn't have to be a law because it common sense.

Made a short trip upstate this past weekend, around 250 miles round trip, and it was unbelievable who many dumbasses are the highway. IMO, a big part of the problem is the rather lax requirements for passing the driver's permit testing in the first place. I haven't looked at the Smith driving system as posted above but there is definitely a need for more educated and better trained drivers.

That law has been in effect in most states for several years, and as a commercial driver I try and get over for almost anything on the shoulder, you NEVER know when a young kid might jump out of the car, or someone just throws their door open without looking, I have no issue with moving over "when possible".

HOWEVER, what I do have a huge problem with is dumbass people that think the shoulder of a 4 lane interstate is a perfectly good place to park to change drivers, take their coat off, let their child go to the bathroom, stretch, etc.

I can't tell you how many times I see people doing this crap when there is an exit ramp less than a mile up the road that they could SAFELY pull off on, I just don't get it.

Also, while I am on this rant, there are some really stupid LEO's out there as well, that I have seen pull people over at the worst possible places, around a corner, just over a hill, or on an extremely busy interchange.

Although I usually have no issue with Law Enforcement, some of these "Professional's" need a swift kick in the ass!!!

X2!!
A few days ago I saw an Explorer broken down in the right lane at an intersection. Four lanes of traffic on both streets, and the driver is standing in front of the truck, hood open, with a small boy beside him. They could have been smacked from behind or the kid could have stepped out and been hit.

So if the speed limit is 60, and I'm doing 70 in the left lane, and the right lane is going faster, I could get a ticket? All it takes is a cop having a bad day, and a person could theoretically get 2 tickets, one for speeding, and one for impeding traffic.

Theoretically, yes.

:)

Florida actually does have something about the left lane used for passing, never enforced.

Illinois' is what it should be.
They have it if you are not passing a car immediately you have to get in the right lane.
If you are not passing, stay in right lane.
(immediately so someone can't say they are going to pass a guy 2 miles ahead or something, they have police ticketing people for being in left lane)

So if cars are passing on the right it should be an immediate light going off in someone's head that they should be in the right lane.

:D

Another one I thing should be a light going off in someone's head is when the semi's are going faster than you on the right.

:)

I have to totally agree. Too many officers have died because of idiots running into them when they could have moved over and given them room to do their job. If you can't move over, then slow down. I always move over for anyone on the shoulder just because it's the safe thing to do. I always did it in the big rigs, and I still do it today with the four wheeler.

Simpleman , yes if your going slower then the right lane you should get in the right lane & let the faster traffic get into the left lane. This kind of thinking is why the right lane is going fast because the idiots in the left lane are going to SLOW. Your not a cop so what makes you feel you are someone that can say how fast others go. If all the right lane is going faster then you even if your going over the limit then you should get over. Your blocking traffic in the left lane. At least until you or someone else come up on another driver just like you who thinks they can say how fast someone else can drive.

Hit the nail on the head ...It should be common sense..

I do traffic control , It means I am next to road all day.. Most drivers do'nt give you an inch

John L.

John, most drivers don't give a crap about anything but themselves. Where in hell most of them got their drivers license from is beyond me.

From what I see here in DE, the young women are the worst. Young men next and those with the big bucks cars/SUVs are next. The lower the age the worse they are too.
And the kicker for here is... the Cops don't even care anymore.

As noted by others, Missouri has had the law for a few years. Works well, it is a GOOD law! SHOULDN'T BE NECESSARY TO HAVE SUCH A LAW, but then I sometimes think drivers licenses are available online just by applying for one!:mad:

Jon.

You are completely misunderstanding what I'm talking about. Why am I surprised?
Ever drive the Chicago Expressways? 4, sometimes 5 lanes or more going one direction. Speed limit is 55 approaching downtown.
I could be in lane 3, doing 70 MPH, and being passed on the right, by cars weaving in and out of lanes, maybe lane 2 is naturally doing 74 MPH.
Either way, a cop having a bad day, or looking for an out of state plate, could write 2 tickets to me, for going too fast, and going too slow.

Capiche'?

I think the farthest left lane would be considered the 'fast' lane?

Actually the law applies to the 4 lane highways, I think.
(2 lanes going in one direction)

:)

I'm not sure either, John, my understanding of the law in Illinois was that it applied to all highways. I'll have to do some research.

I tried to stay away from the Chicago area, so never traveled the multi-lanes over 2.

:gag:

Here's an anecdote.

We have a four lane between two cities where I lived in Illinois.

The State Police would pull people over that were driving in the left lane.
(probably the majority of the drivers)

Most that were stopped said they were going to turn left up ahead.
Which is 6 miles away for nearest turn.

:eek:

The police told them if you are not passing a car that is within 2 car lengths, you had better get back in the right lane.
If you are turning left only move over when around 100' or so.
If you went more than a 1/4 mile without passing anyone (or turning) you got ticketed.

They wrote a big article on it in the local paper.

Well, that lasted for about a month or so, they were back to the left lane.

I just used the right lane for getting around.
(especially here in Florida)

:)

I used to be for over 30 years a "yellow light" side of highway dude. I can tell you stories. Loaded log trucks zooming 2 feet away from me putting big wind on my whiskers. Yellow lights are the Rodney Dangerfield of hazard lights, the clown car lights, the Pee Wee Herman level of respect from many.

Agree with common sense change lanes if safely possible. Slow if not. Don't hug fog line ferchrissake.

Don't agree with some LE practice of actually having their patrol car a few inches into right lane.

My complaint. 2 lane each direction. Speed limit 75mph. Approaching a large hill or mountain pass. There is five of you in the fast lane doing between 75-80. In front and in the rt. lane or slow lane are two semi tractor trailers or more starting to make the grade and they are two city blocks in front of you. They obviously knew you were fast approaching because they had to have looked to see if there was traffic so they could pass. One truck will pull into the fast lane knowing that their speed is going to be reduced because of the grade. The truck they are passing comes up even to them and then they sit side by side all the way over the summit and ever so slowly the passing truck overtakes the other and ever so slowly moves over. The driver knew these cars were coming at a high rate of speed but just had to do a bit of blocking. I have seen it so bad sometimes that these trucks will stay in the fast lane so long that cars start passing on the rt. side out of frustration. Sometimes the truck drivers will then try and pinch these cars passing on the rt.
Happens every day out there.

I always move over for anyone stopped on the shoulder. I had the privilege of being broke down on the side of the road last winter in a big truck for a couple of hours with the triangles out and was shocked at how many trucks would not move over even though the middle lane was clear. The only safety issue I see with the law and see it often is when people move to the middle lane in a larger vehicle or truck and slow way down. This leads to impatient and inattentive drivers coming up behind them and attempt to go around them on the right, not seeing the vehicles on the shoulder until the last second. I blame cell phones for this

I also drive a semi. One time, pulling a flatbed with empty racks on it, I had a strap come loose. I pulled to the shoulder, with the 4 ways on, to retighten the strap. 2 lanes each way on this highway.
Imagine my surprise when a county sheriff deputy flies by me in the right lane, about a foot or so from where I was standing. The passing lane was wide open, not a vehicle for a mile. It really ticked me off, that the deputy wouldn't give me the same courtesy he demands from me. If I had seen the car number, that jurisdiction would have received an angry call.:mad:

I always move to the left lane as soon as I see a vehicle on the side be it a trooper or regular driver. We had a nut deliberately run over a state trooper not long ago as he was doing his job. That trooper was a friend of mine and one of the most giving and considerate men one could ever know. He is greatly missed by many.

Yup
We have a lot of two-lane highways in Massachusetts with a lot of volume. I asked State Police about this and they said if you can't get over because there's too much volume, then slow down as much as possible without creating a hazard

Yeah we do have a lot of two lane highways, and those roads are usually where you'll find some of the dumbest drivers!

Our major highways like 95 or 495 are like super speedways around here. If you aint doing 80mph you'll be passed by everything from dump trucks to minivans :-ohwell:

The law in Florida was recently amended to include all emergency vehicles, including toll trucks.