Memorial Day ‘Move Over’ Campaign Takes Shape in Virginia

The Memorial Day weekend in Virginia typically sees an uptick in serious accidents. More police and Virginia State trooper cars are out by the side of the road, as well as more ambulances, fire trucks, and tow trucks. Police across Hampton Roads are taking part in a Memorial Day ‘Move Over” campaign that highlights laws to protect first responders.

The Move Over law in Virginia requires drivers to leave a lane for emergency vehicles or slow down.

Josh Sutton, a traffic officer for the Norfolk Police Department, told WAVY.com.

“If it’s safe to make the lane change, make a lane change and just get over. I want to go home at the end of the night.”

Virginia State Police say 100 law enforcement officers lost their lives in the past decade from getting hit by drivers.

The Memorial Day weekend is the most dangerous holiday of the year on the roads of the United States.

The report on WAVY.com noted York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office, Newport News Police Department and other agencies are taking part in a Memorial Day ‘Move Over’ Campaign along Route 60 to not only catch ‘Move Over’ violators but other drivers and passengers not wearing their seatbelts.

According to AAA Tidewater, about 42 million people are expected to travel this weekend, making 2018 the busiest Memorial Day Weekend in 12 years.

Georjeane Blumling, vice president of public relations, said young drivers, especially males aged 18-30, are more resistant to wearing their seatbelts.

The Virginia ‘move over’ law is defined in § 46.2-921.1 of state code. It states the driver of any motor vehicle, upon approaching a stationary vehicle that is displaying a flashing, blinking, or alternating blue, red, or amber light or lights and should yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the stationary vehicle. The law applies to a highway with at least four lanes, at least two of them intended for traffic “proceeding as the approaching vehicle.”

If it is unsafe to move over a lane to give space to an emergency vehicle, the approaching driver should slow down.

Last year, seven people lost their lives in Virginia over the long Memorial Day weekend. Nationally, the number of deaths over the holiday increases by 9.9 percent when compared to the weekends directly before and after it.

Please drive carefully over the Memorial Day weekend. Give space to emergency vehicles, put down your cellphones, wear your seatbelt and don’t drive after consuming alcohol. Have a great Memorial Day weekend and stay safe. If you are hurt by the actions of another driver, please call Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers at (757) 333-3333.