Remember to Move Over – It’s the Law!

The Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition (NITTEC), the New York State Police Department, and West Seneca Police Department encourage drivers to ‘Move Over’ for law enforcement and emergency personnel.

“Police, fire, and ambulance personnel are often required to do their work on the shoulders of busy roadways and highways, and every year, hundreds of officers are injured or killed by passing vehicles,” said Athena Hutchins, Executive Director of NITTEC. “By obeying the ‘Move Over’ law, drivers are protecting those whose job it is to protect us.”

When a police, fire, ambulance, tow, maintenance, or service vehicle is stopped with its emergency lights flashing, motorists are required to move over, leaving at least one lane between their vehicle and the parked emergency vehicle – if it can be done safely.

If drivers are unable to change lanes because of traffic or the number of lanes available, they must slow down and pass the vehicle with caution.

“Emergency workers are fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters of your community. Help keep them safe when you see them on the side of the roadways by moving over,” said Trooper James O’Callaghan, Public Information Officer of New York State Police.

“When you see an emergency vehicle on the side of the roadway, move over to keep us safe, so we can keep you safe,” said West Seneca Police Patrol Captain Edward Baker.

Travel advisories, incidents, alerts, and construction updates are available 24/7 at: nittec.org/travel_advisories.

Learn more by visiting nittec.org.

About NITTEC:

Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition (NITTEC) was formed in 1995, as a coalition of agencies designed to improve the safety and efficiency of travel in Buffalo Niagara. NITTEC’s mission is to improve mobility, reliability, and safety on the regional bi-national multimodal transportation network through information sharing and coordinated management of operations.