Colonel Kenneth L. Morckel
Superintendent
Ohio State Highway Patrol

Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt. Christopher Wood and Tpr. William A. Davis are reminding Ohio motorists to move over or slow down when approaching an emergency vehicle. Sgt. Wood and Tpr. Davis know first hand the danger motorists impose when they do not use caution near emergency vehicles and personnel along the highway. State law requires motorists to move over or slow down when approaching emergency vehicles with their lights activated.

Sgt. Christopher Wood’s patrol car video, which can be viewed on the Patrol’s Web site, captures the impact of a March 29 crash on Interstate 71 in Richland County, which involved Sgt. Wood and Tpr. Charles Farley. Sgt. Wood was on-foot approaching Tpr. Farley’s cruiser when a vehicle struck both cruisers. Both officers were transported to Mansfield General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Chardon Patrol Post Tpr. William A. Davis narrowly escaped serious injury when his patrol car and a car he had pulled over were struck in a June 12 crash on westbound State Route 2 in Lake County. The crash resulted in the injury of three individuals, including 16-year Patrol veteran Tpr. Davis. According to a crash report by the Mentor Police Department, Tpr. Davis was on foot conducting a traffic stop when a passing vehicle struck both Tpr. Davis’s Patrol car and the car he had pulled over. Tpr. Davis saw the car approaching and ran to safety. He was struck by flying debris, but escaped serious injury.

The Patrol car video from both of these crashes dramatically depicts why motorists need to move over or slow down when approaching an emergency vehicle. The video footage from both of these crashes is being used in the Patrol’s new public service announcement (PSA), which was recently distributed to Ohio media outlets, and is also available on the Patrol’s Web site at www.state.oh.us/ohiostatepatrol. The new PSA aims to increase public awareness of the Move Over or Slow Down law, which went into effect in September 1999.

Ohio Revised Code section 4511.213 is designed to protect public safety personnel while they are performing job duties on Ohio’s roadways. Signs are posted statewide on all the major highways. The signs describe the state law that requires motorists to move over or slow down for stopped law enforcement and public safety vehicles.

State law requires motorists who are approaching stopped public safety vehicles with lights activated, to move over, slow down, and proceed with caution. Motorists must safely change lanes away from the public safety vehicle if traveling on a multi-lane highway. If motorists cannot change lanes safely, or are on a two-lane highway, they must slow down and proceed with caution. Motorists who do not comply with this law can be issued a citation.

The Move Over or Slow Down law was enacted after Centerville Police Department Officer John Kalaman and Washington Township Fire Department Firefighter Robert J. O’Toole 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 during a traffic stop. Just last year, Tpr. Frank Vasquez of the West Jefferson Post was killed when he was hit by a car while on-foot in the median of Interstate 270 in Franklin County.

Knowledge and compliance of this law is key in protecting the lives of public safety workers on Ohio roadways. I am asking Ohio motorists to help ensure the safety of Ohio’s law enforcement officers and emergency personnel by slowing down, moving over, and proceeding with caution when emergency vehicle lights are activated.

Move Over or Slow Down - It’s About Safety!