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Comment by Phoenix on December 20, 2010 at 1:12pm

The governor for the state of MD has passed a state law,that went into effect on 09/01/2010 stating motorist are to give a 1 lane buffer for all emergency apparatus on the highway with lights in operation. I know it is a moving violation but to what degree, I'm not sure but I will find out.
I do know this, they ignore this law just like they ignore the decreased speed limits in a work zone. I still say the only way to secure an accident scene on the highway and to stop these senseless LODD's is to shut the road down completely. I would rather piss off and inconvenience a stranger than bury a friend.

Comment by Damo on December 20, 2010 at 12:26pm

Hey Oldman, I know your pain brother.

Nobody cares about moving over in Texas for anybody let alone if you have lights and sirens going. Last weekend we drove up on someone that would not move over even with a hard shoulder, our officer changed tones, blew the air horn and even made the old metal bell clang and they didnt even look up. Then when they finally moved over, they flipped us off for making them stop. I dont know why the have mirrors, side windows, or blinkers on cars in Texas, nobody ever seems to use them.

Comment by Rachel on December 20, 2010 at 12:00pm

This is the law in Florida:

On a two-lane roadway, you are required to slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit.
If the speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less, you must slow down to five miles per hour.
If you are driving on an interstate or roadway with multiple lanes of travel in the same direction, and you approach an emergency or law enforcement vehicle parked along the roadway, you must vacate the lane closest to that vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. If you are not able to safely move over, you must slow down to a speed of 20 MPH below the posted speed limit unless directed otherwise by a law enforcement officer.
Violating the move over law puts both yourself and a public safety professional at risk.
Violating the move over law can result in a fine and points on your license.

Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
A major piont is that if responding to a scene or when onscene, firefighters have a job to do and that is not to catch the plate number of a driver violating the law

Comment by Capt. Chris W. Button on December 20, 2010 at 10:00am

Here in Alabama, we've had that law for 2 years I think. Some move over, some don't. It seems more people move over for a cop that has someone pulled over for a traffic violation than for a fire truck working an MVA. I guess they're more scared to get a ticket more than concerned for our safety. Going home Friday, I came up on a car fire one of our crews was working at a busy intersection. I could picture a FF stepping around the car and getting hit, so I blocked a lane and flipped on my lights until the police arrived. The pumper already had the other lane blocked.

Although it is a primary offense, it seems that the move over law is only enforced as an afterthought, "Oh, and by the way, you didn't move over so let's add that to the charges along with the vehicular homicide for killing the public safety worker and the DUI charges."

Unfortunately DWHUA is not illegal. (If you have to ask, it stands for Driving With Head Up ...)

Comment by Barry Copley on December 19, 2010 at 8:55pm

Aren't they supposed to yield to us and all emergency Response vehicles any way?But they don't.Whenever we get a run and get on somebody's ass and honk the horn they slow down instead of trying to get over or off the road some where to let us pass.Where I live is all 2 lane highways any way so we have a hard time sometimes getting around "Stupid People" in traffick.
Good thing we have some good drivers though.But it still burns our ass trying to dodge people that wont get out the way.

Comment by John Dobson on December 19, 2010 at 7:48pm

Nobody here ever yields. I even heard the dj on a radio station laughing once about not yielding to fire trucks. He said he had never heard of such a law. He the red lights on a fire truck ment just drive faster. Real nice huh? I was mad by the time he was done. How many people took him for telling the truth after his 5 minute rant.

Comment by JOSEPH MONTONDO on December 19, 2010 at 7:38pm

Davin Louisiana has that law on the books for awhile. It only works if it is inforced.

Comment by Paul Montpetit on December 19, 2010 at 5:54pm

Yes, its nice BUT, I wouldn't bet your ass that it will be followed....still keep eyes over your shoulder and get some people trained as Fire Police (Yes, there is training involved, you don't just stand there and announce that you are now Fire Police) Continue to park in a blocking move and don't hesitate to close the road down if it even hints as a safety issue.....

Comment by Richard Armstrong on December 18, 2010 at 11:16am

The words "or risk" should not be in the equation.It should be automatic til people learn.Like seriously FD's bring every piece of equipment they have for blockers and FF's still get killed on the scene.It's rediculous.I prefer road closure over lane closure if your on a scene but until we get that law enacted I guess we have to make the best of the laws we have just got to enforce them not tell them that they run the risk of if they don't follow it.

Comment by Oldman on December 16, 2010 at 11:07pm

It works soooo well in Texas....NOT