Medic Urges Mecklenburg County to "Move Over"
Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) January 20, 2014 -- In support of the “Move Over Law” Month this January, Medic is urging the citizens of Mecklenburg County to support and raise awareness of this life-saving law.
The Move Over Law has been in effect since 2002 in North Carolina and is designed to protect the safety of emergency personnel, law enforcement, and utility workers. The law requires motorists slow down and approach cautiously when an emergency vehicle is stopped on the shoulder of the roadway with its lights flashing. Motorists are required to move over to another lane away from the emergency vehicle on a multi-lane highway or slow down on a two lane highway and can do so safely. Motorists must slow down while maintaining a safe speed. No abiding by this law can result in a minimum $500 fine and a felony charge if the failure results in serious injury or death to the worker(S).
The failure in motorists adhering to the law has left a lasting impact on the men and women of Medic when one of our own was critically injured in 2003 while working roadside. Paramedic Tim Hayes survived the horrific accident that resulted in the amputation of both legs.
Reminders of the Move Over Law can be seen on billboards along I-77 and I-85 during the week of January 20-26. The latest in accident awareness can be found on Medic’s Twitter @MecklenburgEMS. For more on the Move Over Law and other traffic laws, visit http://www.ncdot.gov/travel/roadrules/.
Nikkie Perry, Mecklenburg EMS Agency, 704.943.6178, [email protected]
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