Its Simple Move Over For All Stopped Vehicles
When a crash temporarily closed the westbound lanes on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) in McHenry County, a driver veered around four Illinois Tollway trucks stopping traffic, only to slam into another Tollway truck assisting with the crash cleanup.
That incident was just one of the 29 times this year that drivers have struck a Tollway vehicle, a number that is up by over 30% from last year. It’s a dangerous problem—not just for roadway workers and emergency responders, but for drivers themselves.
“This is a deadly serious problem that threatens everyone who uses our roads—not just Tollway workers, or Illinois State Police troopers, but every driver who someday may find themselves stopped or stranded along the side of the road,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “But this danger could be eliminated if drivers remember to slow down and move over whenever they approach any stopped vehicle that has its hazard lights activated. It’s up to all of us to follow the Move Over Law and protect each other.”
So far this year, no Tollway workers or Illinois State Police troopers have been seriously injured in these types of crashes, though there have been some close calls.
In October, a driver trying to cut through a closed lane in a work zone on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) knocked down a Tollway worker who was outside of his vehicle helping manage the lane closure. Luckily, the worker suffered only bumps and bruises as a result of the incident.
In previous years, Tollway workers and ISP troopers have been killed in other incidents by drivers who violated the Move Over Law.
The law, also known as Scott’s Law, requires drivers to slow down and, if possible, safely change lanes when approaching any vehicle stopped on or along a road with its hazard lights flashing.
Drivers who fail to comply with the Move Over Law face serious legal penalties, including fines of up to $10,000, a two-year suspension of driving privileges and in some cases, a jail sentence.
By slowing down and moving over when approaching any stopped vehicle that has its hazard lights flashing, drivers will avoid any legal penalties while also helping protect workers, emergency responders, other motorists and themselves.
“Slowing down gives drivers more time to react to unexpected situations and moving over creates extra space between your car and other vehicles, providing an increased margin of safety,” said ISP Capt. Jason Bradley, District 15 commander. “Taking these simple steps, which are required by law, will make the roads safer for everyone.”