MARION COUNTY, Fla. — January is Move Over Month in the Sunshine State.
Agencies across the state are highlighting the need to protect workers on the side of the road.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
In Florida drivers must move over for stopped vehicles. It’s the law, and if you can’t move over, you have to slow down to at least 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit.
Channel 9 spoke with a Marion County deputy who had a close call with a drunk driver who failed to move over.
Read: Carjacking arrest leads to murder confession, deputies say
“It was definitely a close call, you know, could have been way worse,” said Marion County Deputy Rafael Hernandez.
During a traffic stop, a drunk driver rammed into Hernandez’s patrol car on the side of the road because she failed to move over.
Read: Florida lawmakers to debate restrictive abortion bill
Hernandez said this kind of things is far too common.
“It happens a lot actually. And it sucks because stuff like that happens,” Hernandez added.
Read: Winter storms force delays and cancellations at Orlando International Airport
Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles data shows in 2021, there were 191 crashes and more than 14,000 citations issued for motorists who didn’t move over.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2022 Cox Media Group
