An expansion of the old pull-over law in Maryland went into effect this week. It deals with vehicles approaching a stalled vehicle, an accident, or someone stopped by police. If not possible to move over because of dense traffic, then slow down. This link gives the details.

https://wtop.com/maryland/2022/09/wh...ding-tomorrow/

Starting last Saturday, drivers who come across a disabled vehicle on Maryland roads will need to “move over.”

The state is expanding its “move over” law, which requires motorists to move over when approaching emergency, law enforcement, tow truck, utility and transportation vehicles while they are stopped, standing or parked on a highway with lights flashing. Or, if moving over is not possible, then drivers need to slow down.

As of Saturday, motorists must also make a lane change or slow down when approaching any stopped, standing, or parked vehicle displaying warning signals.

“Come Saturday, if you come across a disabled vehicle of any type on any road, you should move over to provide that vehicle with enough space so they can be safe and not have to be worried about risking their lives,” state Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher, who sponsored the legislation, said. “If you can’t move over, you’re moving too quick, or there’s just not enough room, then slow down.”

The expanded law was put in place to protect law enforcement, emergency responders and any motorist that may encounter a roadside emergency and must stop near travel lanes, the Maryland Department of Transportation said.

Richard Reeves said he appreciates the importance of the law. He drives a roadside assistance truck for the state’s transportation department. Before working for the state, he provided roadside assistance for AAA.

“My office is the highway,” Reeves said.

Reeves said that he has seen his share of close calls on the road, and he has honed that instinct that tells him when something could go wrong on the side of the road.

“You have a few seconds, but I do my best to not take my eyes off the traffic that’s coming at me,” he said.

He recalled an incident that happened recently, when his expertise and experience came in handy: “The rumble strips that I heard behind me sounded differently.”

It was just before 4 a.m. on the side of Interstate 83 in Baltimore, and the driver of the vehicle he had stopped for had already walked away. Reeves ran as a large SUV driven by someone he believes was impaired by alcohol slammed into his truck from behind.

“My life flashed before my eyes,” Reeves said. “While I’m fortunate that I was able to return home that morning and let my family … know that I was OK, it could have turned out very different,” he said. “This same situation could happen to anybody.”

 

what do they mean by "slow down", to what speed? We've had a similar law like this in for a while but we have a specific decrease in speed to slow down to.

 

Funny a law is even needed for this......

 

My heart bleeds….just take off the frame

 

In Florida to slow down probably means down to the speed limit.

 

Wrong thread, this is not about license plate frames.

 

Thanks…

I see nothing wrong with this law. What can possibly be the drawback?

 

i haven't compared details, but i think florida's law is already about the same. seems reasonable to avoid people being killed on the shoulders of highways. not that drunk, otherwise impaired, or distracted people will obey it.

 

Wrong state; wrong law.

 

No drawback just amazing people don't do that automatically, the fact they need a law for it is hilarious.

 

A lot of drivers today wouldn't know their own name if somebody else didn't show it to them LOL.

 

I have always done this automatically, but people have no sense anymore...

 

You said it! Why not give my fellow man a little space. gosh

LOL it amazes me they can get a driver's license, many appear to be a danger to themselves and others.

It really is. It's very "me first" on the highway. The true nature of man shows it's colors.

My dad put me wise to that last year when I was traveling for holiday. He suggested many people are driving while drinking or on heavy prescriptions, yeah that's why I give myself some distance, I never knew how bad it really was.

OOPS lol
I done that a few times too posting in one thread while thinking about another thread.
I think ctjill was thinking about the license plate border law thread.

 

Yes, Florida's law works very well from what I understand.

 

In upstate NY, the troopers setup fake sting operations with this - put some disabled car on the side of the road, nab the people who don't move to the center lane. It's most senior citizens who won't move out of that right lane for any reason. It's a dumb law, some people over react to it and move into the center lane without even looking. On highly congested parkways like we have on Long Island, its dangerous for other drivers to have a stream of people who have to suddenly get out of the right lane because of a car on the shoulder. It's all about the money and ticket revenues, and higher insurance premiums.