Move Over Laws: What You Have to Do When You Pass a Stopped Emergency Vehicle

You're on the highway and there's a police car, ambulance or tow truck stopped on the shoulder with its lights flashing. Every state requires you to do something, and the permit test will ask exactly what. The basic idea is the same everywhere: move over a lane if you safely can, and slow down if you can't. The numbers are where states differ.

What Each State Requires

• Texas: move out of the lane closest to the vehicle, or slow to at least 20 mph below the posted limit. If the limit is under 25 mph, slow to 5 mph.
• Pennsylvania: move into a lane that isn't next to the emergency scene, police stop or tow truck. If you can't, slow to at least 20 mph below the posted limit. Violating the law can lead to a license suspension.
• Michigan: slow down at least 10 mph below the posted limit and move over a lane if traffic allows. Violations involving emergency vehicles are civil infractions, or felonies if emergency personnel are hurt or killed.
• New York: slow down on every road. On parkways, interstates and other multi-lane controlled-access roads, also move out of the adjacent lane unless it isn't safe. It covers vehicles with blue, green and amber lights, too.
• Ohio: move to an adjacent lane and/or slow down for stopped police and emergency vehicles, road service vehicles like tow trucks and snowplows, and similar vehicles.
• Georgia: move over to the next lane if you safely can; if not, slow down below the speed limit and be prepared to stop. It also covers active sanitation and utility service workers.
• Florida: Florida's law was expanded to include disabled vehicles showing hazard lights, and vehicles using emergency flares or signs.

The Trend: More Vehicles Covered

These laws started with police cars. Over time most states have added fire trucks, ambulances, tow trucks, road maintenance crews, utility and sanitation workers, and now in some states any disabled vehicle with its hazards on. If you're not sure whether a particular stopped vehicle counts, treat it as if it does.

Why It Matters

People working on the shoulder are just a few feet from traffic moving at highway speed. Slowing down and moving over gives them room if something goes wrong, like a driver drifting or a tire kicking up debris.

For the Test

The question usually asks what you must do "if you cannot move over safely." Know your state's number: 20 mph below the limit in Texas and Pennsylvania, 10 mph below in Michigan. Your state page on this site includes the Move Over question for your state.

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