Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office recently took to social media to share a stark reminder about the importance of Florida’s Move Over Law after a close call involving Deputy Polak. In the post, which details the dangerous encounter, all motorists were urged to follow the safety regulations designed to protect roadside responders. “Thankfully, Deputy Polak is OK,” the Sheriff’s Office shared on Facebook, underscoring the risks these workers face daily.
The Move Over Law requires drivers to either shift over a lane or, failing the availability of space, to reduce their speed significantly when approaching stationary vehicles with flashing lights.
Citing the specifics of the mandate, the Sheriff’s Office’s post clarifies, “If you see a vehicle with flashing lights on the side of the road, you MUST move over a lane or if you are unable to move over a lane safely, reduce your speed by 20 MPH below the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 MPH or greater, or slow down to 5 MPH when the posted speed limit is 20 MPH or less.” This clearly laid out requirement serves as a life-saving guideline, reminding us that a moment of distraction or disregard can have dire consequences…