CONNECTICUT, USA — Slow down, move over. That is the law on Connecticut highways when you see any vehicles on the side of the road.
"The Move Over Law is in place because the side of the highway is a really dangerous place to be," said Josh Morgan, spokesperson for the CT Dept. of Transportation.
Just this week, a firefighter and a state trooper were hurt after being hit by a car while they were responding to another crash on Rt. 9 in Cromwell.
"It’s so important when people are approaching a crash scene, when they’re approaching a work zone, to understand that there are people behind the cones, there are people behind those trucks," Morgan said.
Still, some drivers ignore the law.
A new study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that one of the most effective ways to grab drivers’ attention is through electronic signs.
"Whether they were static at the roadside or on a vehicle a tow vehicle or construction vehicle that actually had the messaging to slow down and move over," said Tracy Noble spokesperson for AAA Greater Hartford.
It found that the odds of a vehicle moving over were 95% higher when the signage was used.
The DOT said these are used in some cases on our highways.
"We use the VMS board when and where we can," Morgan said. "Some of these other incidents are just set up with flares and road cones and don’t necessarily have the flexibility to set up with trucks with flashing lights," he said.
This is why ultimately it's up to drivers to pay attention when they get behind the wheel.
"Unfortunately people still seem to think they can multitask behind the wheel. We’ve got high instances of distracted driving, of impaired driving, and speeding," Noble said.
Gaby Molina is a reporter and anchor at FOX61 News. She can be reached at mmolina@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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