The very nature of the work required of Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers and all other public safety officials is dangerous. Whether stopping to assist a motorist with a flat tire, working the scene of a multi-vehicle injury crash, or any of a variety of other duties, public safety employees are working in dangerous settings while other motorists continue down the roadway.

Too often while helping others in need, public safety employees are struck by passing vehicles and injured or sometimes killed.

Nationally, law enforcement officers struck and killed by passing motorists while outside of their own vehicles is the fourth leading cause of death all-time for law enforcement officers.

There is a law on the books in Ohio intended to protect those who work alongside busy roadways. Knowledge and compliance by motorists to this law are key to protecting the lives of public safety workers.

To that end, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, in a partnership with the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Buckeye State Sheriff's Association, are joining forces in a public education and enforcement effort designed to protect public safety personnel while they are performing job duties on Ohio roadways.

A total of 75 signs erected statewide on all major highways describe the state law requiring motorists to move over or slow down for stopped law enforcement and public safety vehicles.

The Patrol partnered with local law enforcement agencies on this important matter because public safety workers risk their lives every day to ensure safety for all motorists travelling on or state's roads.

Ohio Revised Code, section 4511.213, which went into effect on September 9, 1999, describes what is expected of motor vehicle drivers upon approaching a stationary public safety vehicle that is displaying flashing emergency lights.

The law states a driver of the motor vehicle, who is traveling on a highway that consists of at least two lanes that carry traffic in the same direction of travel as that of the driver's motor vehicle, must proceed with due caution and, if possible and with due regard to the road, weather, and traffic conditions, change lanes into a lane that is not adjacent to that of the stationary public safety vehicle.

The law goes on to state in the event a driver is not traveling on the type of highway described above, or if the driver is traveling on a highway of that type but it is not possible to change lanes or if to do so would be unsafe, the driver must proceed with due caution, reduce their speed, and maintain a safe speed for the road, weather, and traffic conditions.

Bear in mind, enforcement is not our goal regarding this law. We need compliance to the law to protect those individuals on the front line of highway safety.

This law was enacted after Officer John Kalaman of the Centerville Police Department and Firefighter Robert J. O'Toole, of the Washington Township Fire Department, were struck and killed by a motorist on Interstate 675 on January 12, 1998, while performing emergency assistance.

More recently, Trooper Robert Perez of the Milan Patrol Post was struck and killed in May 2000, while performing duties related to a traffic stop.

Anyone interested in finding out more about this issue or picking up an informational card on the topic is encouraged to stop by their local Highway Patrol post, or call 1-877-7-PATROL.