ODOT emphasizes the importance of ‘Slow Down, Move Over’

BOWLING GREEN — The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is making attempts to educate motorists about the importance of Ohio’s Move Over law. Since the month of June is Move Over Awareness month, local ODOT and State Highway Patrol representatives are wanting to raise awareness about the law.

Several events will be taking place throughout Ohio to raise awareness, one includes the Southbound I-75 rest area, south of Bowling Green on Friday, June 29 from 9:30a.m.-2:30 p.m. Although ODOT will not be hosting events to raise awareness in every area, they hope to continue to get the word out on the importance of the law.

ODOT District Two Public Information Specialist, Kelsie Hoagland explained a bit more about the event Friday, “Leading up to a holiday weekend, we expect to see an increased number of vehicles on the roadways who could benefit from this education.”

According to Hoagland, representatives from the Ohio State Highway Patrol will also be on sight to “stress the importance of slowing down and moving over.” One of the representatives will include Sergeant Fosgate, who was on the job and struck by a vehicle several years back.

The original statement of Ohio’s Move Over law required motorists to either shift over one lane or slow their speed when driving by vehicles with flashing lights on state highways. In 2013, the law was expanded to include road construction, road maintenance, and utility vehicles.

“This law is extremely near and dear to ODOT because of how many of our employees are constantly working only inches away from moving traffic,” Hoagland explained.

According to Hoagland, through the years 162 ODOT employees have been killed by drivers. In March of this year, ODOT District 4 lost employee John Pasko. Pasko was struck and killed by a motorist while working alongside the road. Hoagland said that in the year 2017 alone, there were over 4,800 crashes in marked work zones.

ODOT hopes that travelers pay attention and remember the importance of the law and how it can save lives. For more information on the effort to save lives with the “Slow Down, Move Over” law, visit their web page on the ODOT website.