DPS URGES DRIVERS TO MOVE OVER OR SLOW DOWN
Officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety say they will be placing special enforcement emphasis on the law requiring motorists to move over or slow down when passing vehicles stopped on the side of the road when emergency lights are on.
This enforcement will take place throughout this year in the Brazos Valley area.
Drivers passing stopped police, fire, ambulance vehicles, tow trucks, and Texas Department of Transportation vehicles, whose emergency lights have been activated, must move out of the lane closest to the vehicle or reduce their speed to 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit.
Sgt. Jimmy Morgan of the DPS says the law provides extra protection for first responders and workers doing their jobs in dangerous conditions.
Violations of the Move Over/Slow Down law can result in a $500 fine and drivers causing bodily injury may be charged with a class B misdemeanor.
These are all great points and commented opinions so no matter what you think your gonna continue driving 290,36, and I-10 the same. I suggest if your a Jeff Gordon type of driver just be careful with the other lives you put at stake trying to save 5 to 15 minutes because most of the time someone or something gets in the way of arriving sooner.
The whole story sure went a different route but that’s what life’s about and just follow the laws and be kind to others. Drive safe because life is to short to complain on left or right lanes just take a breath and relax…
Have a great week, Go Patriots! 28/21
It disgust me that the state had to pass a law to encourage drivers to slow down &/or move over when a certain class of vehicles has pulled over onto the shoulder. Common sense & courtesy should make that something every driver does, regardless of the vehicle/person. A vehicle that is pulled over on the side of a road indicates a problem. That may be anything from a spilled Coke to a sick child, a car problem, or a long list of distractions. The driver of the pulled over vehicle likely has his focus on the immediate problem, not necessarily on the drivers zooming by. While the law addresses only emergency vehicles such as TDOT, law enforcement, and a few other vehicles., drivers should always slowdown and if they can safely do so, pull over for any vehicle that has pulled off the road.
99% of the time it’s people with a Class C drivers license, most of thempay more attention to cell phone than their windshield and mirrors.
Yall are more worried about YOU going fast in the left lane than the story at hand , SLOWING DOWN when emergency vehicles are present.
The article isn’t about how to drive in the passing lane…..it’s about the Move Over/Slow Down law. Which is being enforced in order to keep first responders, tow truck operators, and TXDOT workers safe so they can go home to their families at the end of their shift. How about we focus on that and not on enforcing laws so people can speed in the passing lane. KWHI should write an article on that so people could voice their opinions about it. Please either Move Over or Slow Down if you see emergency lights activated.
IF THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT IS 55 AND THE DRIVER IN THE LEFT IS ADHERING TO THE 55 (or even 10 over with a large pickup in his trunk) IS HE/SHE A “SLOWER” DRIVER ?
The posted speed limit signs SAY 55 MPH sections of 290. There are (disconcerting) flashing red signs say SLOW DOWN — ON TOP OFTHE 55 MPH SIGN.
I THINK THAT APPLIES TO THE LEFT LANE ALSO (or am I too old to interpret that a WRITTEN SIGN – WITH A FLASHING RED LIGHT means anything.)
If 290 is to BE A VERSION OF THE INDIANAPOLIS SPEEDWAY THEN TAKE DOWN THE D*** speed limit signs
The view expressed is failing to take into account that the left lane is designed and designated by law for passing, not for driving the speed limit. When you “hog” the left lane and do not allow it to be used as it is intended and designed, you frustrate drivers who are trying to use it as it is designed and intended and create unsafe situations.
I would also question why someone would want to knowingly and willingly take over the left lane knowing they are creating frustration and danger for others, piling traffic up behind them, and ignoring the law. That comes across as incredibly selfish to this humble reader of the article. What kind of person makes choices like that?
If they’re driving the speed limit and preventing distracted big city lawyers from passing dozens of vehicles in their BMW at 90 mph, then the answer is, a safe person/driver. If everyone is driving the speed limit, then what passing is necessary?
Stereotyping lawyers and BMW’s does nothing to enhance the conversation and many are still failing to grasp the concept that the left lane is for passing only. If you are driving the speed limit do so in the right lane which is what the law says. If someone passes you in the left lane, that is the responsibility of law enforcement to deal with if they happen to be speeding, it is not up to you to block the lane in a self righteous attempt to enforce the law. When you do so you break the law, create an unsafe situation, and frustrate other drivers by your failure to obey they law. You deserve a ticket just like the speeding lawyer in his BMW…….!
Like I said, I don’t think all the commenters here are referring to the same situation. You and I certainly are not.
Also the law says the left lane is for “passing” only, wish that was enforced also.
They need to be placing a special emphasis on slow drivers in the left lane. The “slower driver, keep right laws” need to be enforced. These slow drivers frustrate other drivers and create unsafe situations on the road.
What gives you more of a right to speed in the left lane than they have to drive the speed limit in that lane?
The law reads that you move over. Sorry Pat….
It is obvious that all the left-lane commenters here are not discussing the same situation. I know the law is clear — the left lane is for passing only. Left-lane vigilantes are wrong no matter what their speed. At the same time, no one driving the speed limit should feel compelled to speed-up or postpone their safely passing a slower-than-speed-limit-vehicle, just because somebody speeding wants to pass the vehicle operating at the speed limit.
If you like to drive fast, that’s fine. Just accept the consequences of your decision, like having to slow down for the ultra-rare ‘speed limit driver’ who is safely passing someone moving even slower — after all, you’re expecting total strangers to accept the consequences of your decision without regard to their own rights.
BS…
If I’m driving at the speed limit, I have no legal obligation to get out of your way so you can speed!!!
Actually, yes you do. The law states that the left lane is for passing only and it’s been that way for years. In other words, if you’re driving slower than the vehicles in the right hand lane, then you need to either speed up and get around them before getting into the right hand lane or slow down and get behind them by moving over to the right hand lane. Look it up or take a defensive driving course and you’ll see that it’s the recommended safe way to drive…
Your are correct assuming your driving in the RH lane.
Thank YOU!! It is so sad that you have to be in such a hurry when driving that you can’t obey traffic laws. Road rage is at an all time high and it is disgusting. If the speed limit is 55 MPH, I am going to STAY IN MY LANE and keep it moving at 55 MPH! If someone is going faster than 55 MPH they are SPEEDING and they DESERVE to be pulled over by law enforcement and given a SPEEDING TICKET. Speed limits are not nice suggestions – they are put in place to be OBEYED and are for our SAFETY!
On not all but the vast majority of Texas hwys the left lane is marked as a passing lane, not a “fast lane”. You are supposed to pass the vehicle and then return to the right lane once you have safely cleared the other vehicle. Also, we pay for the equipment these officers and road crews use through our taxes so it woild be a great idea to give them space so that we dont have to replace said equipment….or worse,God forbid, have to bury someone over something so stupid. Just be thoughtful and move over. Its common sense