New York State Police will step up enforcement of the Move Over Law Nov. 2–6 during a campaign focused on drivers whose aggressive or reckless behavior puts highway workers at risk, the agency announced.
The effort is part of Crash Responder Safety Week and will include motorist education in partnership with the state Department of Transportation and Thruway Authority. Troopers will emphasize protections for emergency responders, road crews, tow truck operators and people stopped beside the road.
The agencies are also highlighting the law’s coverage of personal vehicles. A March 27, 2024, expansion extended protections to any vehicle parked, stopped or standing on a shoulder or elsewhere on a parkway or controlled-access highway. That includes vehicles disabled by flat tires or mechanical trouble, regardless of whether responders are there.
Drivers must use due care to prevent collisions, State Police said. The agencies advise motorists approaching stopped vehicles to check traffic around them, lower their speed and change lanes if it is safe. When changing lanes would be unsafe, drivers should slow down and pass cautiously.
The safety guidance also calls for watching both sides of the highway, including the left shoulder. Flashing lights, reflective clothing and people working near traffic are among the signs drivers should watch for, the agencies said.