Law enforcement officers, emergency workers at risk of drivers ignoring move over law - WGME

PORTLAND (WGME) -- Law enforcement officers and emergency workers say they are at risk of being hit by drivers ignoring Maine's move over law.

In just the past few months, Maine has seen officers almost hit or killed.

Cumberland County Sergeant Joseph Dyar says every traffic stop has the risk of being hit by passing cars.

“You have to pay attention every single second,” Dyar said. “It’s a little nerve-wracking because you can’t control the vehicle that’s coming at you.”

In his nine years on the job, Dyar has seen multiple cruisers hit and officers across the country killed.

Just a few weeks ago, York police shared a video of an officer almost hit by a passing car.

“Nobody wants to stop or be inconvenienced for a millisecond to slow down or stop and wait for something to be safe,” Dyar said.

Maine’s move over law requires drivers to move over when approaching stopped emergency and public service vehicles on the side of the road.

If they can’t safely move over, they must slow down.

If they don’t, they could face a $275 fine.

Dyar says people get complacent.

“They see lights, hear sirens so frequently that they’re immune to it,” Dyar said. “And they just don’t think, I’m not really sure, but they definitely don’t slow down.”

It’s not just law enforcement officers who are at risk of being hit by passing cars.

Tow truck drivers like Eric Paris also face the same dangers.

“I was thrown forward, parts of what I was wearing were thrown about an eighth of a mile down the road,” Paris said.

Three years ago, Paris was working on the side of the highway when he was hit by a passing car.

“Leg, foot and put an imprint on my back of the mirror and unfortunately, he then drove away because he was scared,” Paris said.

He was out of work for a year and had reconstructive surgery.

To this day, Paris has trouble walking.

“I mean it can happen in an instant,” Paris said. “If they don’t pay attention, if they’re texting, anything can happen that quick.”

Despite the move over law that went into effect 14 years ago, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds nearly a quarter of people are still unaware it exists.

“These people, if they’re not paying attention, they’re putting our lives at stake,” Paris said.

Paris is doing his part to stay safe. Now he’s asking drivers to do the same.

“Any emergency vehicle that you see on the side of the road, you need to move over,” Paris said.

source: https://wgme.com/news/local/law-enforcement-officers-emergency-workers-at-risk-of-drivers-ignoring-move-over-law

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