Drivers in Massachusetts, take note: as we head into the busy Labor Day weekend, the Mass. State Police are on high alert, enforcing the ‘Move Over’ law to curb reckless driving and protect roadside workers. The crackdown is not simply for show—recent tragedies necessitate this increased vigilance. Last July, a MassDOT worker was fatally struck by a vehicle, and in March, three more workers perished in a similar fate. These incidents, among others, underscore the dangerous conditions that emergency responders, maintenance, and tow truck crews face every day.
The intent of the ‘Move Over’ law is clear: when you see flashing lights on the roadside, slow down, and give space if safe to change lanes. Col. Geoffrey Noble reminded troopers of the law’s importance for everyone’s safety, “Commanders at every barracks will emphasize to their troopers the importance of enforcing this law for their own safety and for everyone working along our highways,” he said in a statement reported by NBC Boston. In the last six months alone, state officials note that over 6,000 drivers have been stopped for violating this precaution.
The stakes are also personal for the officers and workers on the road. Trooper Sean Clark almost became another statistic after being hit by a car in June. “In the early stages of my recovery, I spent time in the hospital where I spent a lot of time thinking about how close I came to never seeing my wife, and my kids again,” Clark recounted in an interview with Boston 25 News. The ‘Move Over’ campaign, which also features public service announcements, insists on the law’s simple directive to motorists: move over, move over, move over…