An expanded Ƶmove overƵ law passed by the West Virginia Legislature goes into effect Friday.
Although West Virginia has had a Ƶmove overƵ law since 2003, the previous law required motorists to move over for first responders. The new law, House Bill 2344, expands the requirements.
Starting Friday, all motorists will be required to move over a lane when approaching first responders, maintenance vehicles or disabled vehicles with warning signals, unless they are unable to move over a lane or are on a highway with fewer than four lanes, in which case they will be required to slow down.
ƵAAA applauds the West Virginia Legislature for their effort in passing this critical piece of legislation to protect motorists at the roadside and we thank Governor (Patrick) Morrisey for signing the measure into law,Ƶ Lori Weaver Hawkins, public affairs manager for AAA Blue Grass, said in a news release.
According to AAA in its analysis of data received from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1,874 people had been struck by a vehicle while outside of a disabled vehicle in the U.S. between 2017 and 2021.
Sen. Mark Maynard, R-Wayne, chairman of the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said in a statement to The Herald-Dispatch that he was proud to have overseen the billƵs passage.
ƵI was delighted to see HB 2344 make it all the way through the legislative process,Ƶ Maynard said. ƵIƵm chairman of the Senate transportation infrastructure committee, I was approached by a gentleman during the session that urged the importance of this bill. He represents waste haulers, and I took for granted that was who would benefit from the bill.Ƶ
Maynard said heƵd been aware of incidents caused by motorists failing to move over throughout the course of his time in the towing business.
ƵLittle did I know AAA was a big advocate for this bill. I actually own and operate a AAA roadside assistance business here in western West Virginia and eastern Kentucky,Ƶ Maynard said. ƵIƵve been around the business since I was 11 years old when my parents first started in the towing business in 1983. Over the years, IƵve heard of so many deaths of tow truck drivers attributed to highway accidents from passersby not moving over.Ƶ
Although he owns a AAA roadside assistance business, Maynard said he was not contacted by AAA about the bill during the legislative process.
ƵI was never contacted by AAA about the importance of this bill, but IƵm glad I wasnƵt. I ran it in committee based on its own merits, never realizing that it could save my life or one of my drivers, let alone all of the other hundreds of tow truck operators across the state of West Virginia.Ƶ
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
