MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Representatives with AAA have started to advise residents of an expansion of a statewide law that mandates motorists to slow down and pull into another lane if they see a vehicle parked on the side of the road.
Director of Public Affairs for the AAA East Central Office Jim Garrity discussed the scheduled expansion of the West Virginia version of the ‘Move Over’ law on WAJR’s Talk of the Town, which will now account for all vehicles pulled over on major roadways. The new expansion of the law, which was originally passed over 20 years ago in the Mountain State, will now consider any motorists who will not either move into another lane or slow down while approaching a pulled-over vehicle, regardless of who it is, in violation of traffic laws.
“You have to move over a lane, and if you can’t move over a lane, you have to slow down, what’s happening on Friday is that law is expanding to everyone at the roadside,” said Garrity. “If you’re stuck on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck (it applies to motorists), if you’re changing a flat tire, this is an expansion of the law.”
According to Garrity, West Virginia will expand on the original ‘Move Over’ law passed in 2003, where motorists were required to move over to the lane farthest from a stopped vehicle or to slow down if there is no place to turn. This was applied to motorists who saw any first responder or tow truck driver tending to an incident on any Mountain State roadway, similar to laws passed in every state in the country. Despite close to a quarter of licensed motorists in West Virginia being unaware of the law itself, AAA feels the more motorists are aware of the ‘Move Over’ Law expansion, the better.
“It’s surprising, but not everyone does know that there is a law (in the Mountain State),” said Garrity. “AAA has done research, all 50 states have some version of a ‘Move Over’ Law, there’s like some small differences state by state, but all 50 states have one.”
For AAA representatives, the expansion of the West Virginia iteration of the ‘Move Over’ Law is considered significant not only to reflect on the efforts by senior officials to expand the law nationwide but also to honor those who have passed away due to vehicles hitting them while on the job. According to Garrity, the need for the expansion was emphasized after a Pittsburgh-based AAA tow truck driver was struck and killed by a motorist while tending to a vehicle on the side of the road. With similar incidents happening nationwide, despite the laws, the expansion is considered more than necessary.
“It hits close to home, we have seen people die at the side of the road servicing our members,” said Garrity. “And that’s just the tow truck driver, that doesn’t take into account the construction and the police and everyone else.”
With the expansion of the ‘Move Over’ Law expected to take place in the middle of the summer travel season, Garrity expects law enforcement to be vigilant as motorists hit the road starting Friday. Anyone in violation of the law, regardless of circumstances, could result in a fine of up to $500, a license suspension, and up to 60 days in jail. With safety being the priority, Garrity and the other AAA representatives hope Mountain State motorists will be good neighbors as the law expands across the state.
“Sometimes it can be such a thankless job, as a tow truck driver or as an emergency responder,” said Garrity. “And it’s such a small way the rest of us can say thank you, by paying attention to the road, and moving over, and if you can’t move over, slow down.”