Delaware’s Move Over Law Protects Emergency Workers…

The Move Over Law protects emergency workers and first responders and efforts to amend have been underway over the past legislative session. 

The Move Over Law, it requires any driver approaching a stopped emergency vehicle that has its lights activated, to either move over into a lane that is not next to the emergency vehicle, or to reduce his or her speed to a “safe speed” while passing the emergency vehicle if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe.

Anyone who works alongside our highways is particularly vulnerable to being hurt by inattentive and careless drivers and the emergency first responders are witnessing this more and more on Delaware roadways.

Emergency workers on our highways, whether they are law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, DELDOT employees, tow truck operators, utility crews or distressed motorists, depend upon all motorists to be attentive to their presence.

Recently, a number of representatives from the Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association and the Sussex County Fire Police Association have been working diligently to amend passage of the law during this legislative session that ends June 30th.  These proposed amendments address the growing concern over the safety of emergency responders and increases the penalties for persons who violate this section of the Delaware Code.  This legislative initiative requires drivers to yield the right-of-way to an emergency vehicle making use of audible or visual signals and increases penalties as well as loss of driving privileges.

The “Move Over” Law applies to law enforcement vehicles, EMS vehicles, ambulances, fire trucks, fire police, DELDOT, tow trucks, public utility vehicles or any stationary vehicle displaying a warning signal including vehicle hazard warning lights, road flares, traffic cones, caution signs, or any non-vehicular warning signs.  A law already on the books in Delaware requires motorists to yield the right of way to “moving” emergency vehicles that are using either their lights or sirens, or both.

However, police are hoping for voluntary public compliance of the law so that they won’t have to take enforcement action.

The Indian River Volunteer Fire Company wishes to acknowledge these legislative initiatives and thank our elected officials for their continued cooperation and support especially our local elected officials – the Honorable Representatives Pete Schwartzkopf, Jeff Hilovsky, Valerie Jones Giltner, Stella Parker Selby, and Dan Short as well as Senator David Wilson.

The local fire company representatives include Ron O’Neal and John Hall from Millsboro; John Peterson from Lewes, William Tobin from Indian River and Jay Jones from Ellendale.