Move Over (please)

[Blackrock]

Here in Arizona it is now a law for traffic to move over (if you can) for any vehicle parked on the shoulder of our highways.

I am a field mechanic for the Arizona Department of Transportation and part of my territory is the stretch of I-10 from the NM border and past Benson Az. I am called out frequently to repair our fleet equipment along this corridor. Most times I am able to get the unit off out of the way but many times I have to work the job right there on the main line.

Yesterday I was repairing a mower tractor at mp 172 and had my service truck parked as far over to the right as I could get it. Had my beacons and 4ways on lit up pretty good. All the truckers were moving over but smaller traffic wasn't so much. There were several large coaches and 5'rs that didn't even budge and I felt they tried to get a little closer than needed.
Got me to thinking about chucking my 3# hammer through the front windshield of the next Berky coming by. Sorry just had to vent.

[Blubear]

No need to apologize and venting is always better then throwing your #3 hammer
Unfortunately there will always be people who lack any common courtesy and common sense.

[acadianbob]

We have that law here in Minnesota too. It's a good law. But some people are still ignoring it. And, unfortunately, police officers and tow truck drivers are still being hit. It's amazing to me that people will also rear-end a highway patrol car, on the shoulder, with strobe lights blazing away. It happened here just last week. FTLOG!

[wana65stang]

I read that sometimes people get a fixation on lites and steer towards them, this could be the cause of some accidents.

[Oaklevel]

We have the same law in Virginia & the same issues......... Same with State Troopers on the shoulder with lights on getting hit.........Tow truck operators, VDOT, Construction Workers same issues......... Whether law or not should get over........ I have the same rant.............

[SCCS]

Originally Posted by Blubear

Unfortunately there will always be people who lack any common courtesy and common sense.

I deal with people like this everyday as I work on the roads here in California and common sense is a big part of it.

[dblr]

I drove tractor trailer for UPS and they trained us to always move over for any vehicles on the shoulder as you can never predict what they might do, I carry that over to my own vehicles also. Move over a save a life.

[Blackrock]

I have been doing this job for 24 years and stayed safe so far. Working within 6 feet of high speed traffic you have to think every move before you do it. Always keeping an eye back down the highway helps. But I know workers who have the attitude that their hardhat and reflective vest will keep them safe.

[cbconway]

In many parts of the country shoulders can be either nonexistant or inadequate to get a parked vehicle away from the travel lanes safely. Think about that when your legislators vote on the next highway bill.

[bubbles]

I think the AZ law requires lane change, if safe to do so, or slow down for any vehicle with lights flashing not just any vehicle on side of roadway. Not sure if this includes passenger vehicles with emergency flashers on. I think most states have adopted this procedure in one fashion or another. I believe some require the change for only emergency vehicles (includes police, tow trucks and road service vehicles). In any case, a good idea.

[Hudlow]

In my opinion, quite a few drivers have little awareness of where they are and what's happening on the road - other than they are behind the vehicle in front of them.

Looking ahead, taking notice of traffic movement, braking, and signals as far as can be seen occasionally would benefit themselves, other drivers and those who work the sides of the roads.

It's simple rules of the road.

hud

[donanddona]

Just one of "my" many reasons to not travel at night unless an emergency!

[Oakman]

There have been many times when I’m driving 62 MPH with my fifth wheel that I couldn’t move over because heavy traffic on my left was moving at 75 or 80 MPH. I do slowdown in those situations but moving over isn’t always an option. Just saying.

[Stg1]

We have a similar law in Texas. You are required to move to the left or reduce your speed to 10 mph below the speed limit for emergency vehicles with lights flashing. I wish this also applied to any vehicle with emergency flashers. It would make it safer for everyone.

[Rstrahan]

Same in Florida, but with the size of an RV, not always possible to move over, especially if drivers don't make a hold. I have seen drivers speed up to keep a truck, RV, etc from moving over, just too impatient and want that additional 60' of highway. So they have to slow down, unable to move over.

[CampingGator]

In Florida you have to either move over one lane OR reduce your speed to 20 MPH under the speed limit. I have seen stings for this. Last week on I-75 they had a flashing hazard sign with the law written on it. A few hundred feet north of the sign, on the inside lane, was a sherif car with lights going and a car in front of it. Absoluty no activity going on and the driver door of the cop car was cracked open. I've seen other stings set up too. I wish the law also included any car over on the side.

[jkeezer]

Kind of tough to make it for any vehicle. Can't always see that 1 lone car on the side of the road, and then to have to slow down or move over suddenly makes for an even bigger danger. At least the emergency vehicles have their lights on that can usually be seen from a good distance if you are paying attention.

[Blackrock]

Welp, I gotta go back down on I-10 MP 168 and repair another mower tractor tomorrow. I love my job but it gets a little hairy sometimes.
If ya see a Ford F550 field service truck in the San Simon Az area that's me.

[mackman1994]

I know what you are saying. I have been driving a concrete truck for almost 15 years and it is amazing the dumb crap people do. I always think of the construction worker and mechanics such as yourself. Slowing down 20 MPH slower than the speed limit is not nearly enough I feel that you should slow down enough that you can stop if necessary for vehicles on the side of the road. I believe that if you can't stop you were going to fast in the first place.

[Blackrock]

Hey Mackman1994, I took a vacation from mechanicing here a couple years ago and worked construction. Ran a LOT of mud with a mixer. Don't you sometimes want to reverse the drum and drop a couple splats to get a tailgaters attention.