Move Over, It’s the Law

Dear Reader,

Maryland’s Move Over Law has been around for a while, but I think it’s still something that a lot of people don’t fully understand or follow. And it really could save lives.

The law is straightforward: if you’re driving and you see a vehicle stopped on the side of the road with flashing lights, road flares, cones, or anything like that, you need to either move over to another lane or slow down. It’s not just for emergency vehicles anymore. This applies to anyone—tow truck drivers, utility workers, roadside assistance, even regular folks who’ve had car trouble and had to pull over.

I know, we’ve all driven past a car or truck on the shoulder and probably didn’t think much of it. But those people are in a vulnerable spot. They’re just feet away from traffic zooming by. Every time a car doesn’t move over, the risk of someone getting hit goes way up. The Maryland Department of Transportation released a video showing how dangerous it is when drivers don’t move over. It’s shocking how close cars get to people standing by their vehicles.

Maryland’s law got updated in 2018 to include everyone, not just emergency vehicles, and the state is serious about enforcing it. So far this year, State Troopers handed out over 7,000 citations and warnings for violations of the Move Over Law. A first offense can get you a $110 fine and a point on your license. If you cause a crash, that jumps to $150 and three points. And if someone gets seriously hurt or killed? Aside from living with the guilt of knowing you could have helped prevent this, the fees skyrocket, and you risk losing your license.

This law is about protecting real people. Whether they’re first responders, tow truck drivers, or someone who’s just trying to fix a flat tire, they all have families who want them to come home safe. One reckless move from a driver could change everything for them.

Road safety is about being safe and courteous and doing your part to ensure we all get home safely. I know that moving over in heavy traffic isn’t always easy. But if you can’t safely change lanes, the law says you should at least slow down. Even slowing down helps create that space and makes it a bit safer for those standing on the roadside.

We’ve all been in situations where we’ve had to pull over. It’s easy to imagine how nerve-wracking it would be to have cars whizzing by just a few feet away. Moving over or slowing down might seem small, but it could literally save a life.
I’m sharing this with you because it’s important for more people to know about and follow this law. It’s an easy way to keep our roads safer.

Lastly, if you or anyone you love is ever injured due to someone else’s negligence, I’m here and always ready to fight for you.

Until next time, please be safe and never text while driving.

Paul Samakow

Attorney at Law
703-761-4343 | 301-949-1515