Saturday is National Move Over Day for first responder safety

National Move Over Day is this Saturday and the Hawai‘i Police Department is reminding Hawai‘i Island drivers of their duty to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles on the side of the road.

It’s not just public courtesy, it’s also the law. The “Move Over Law” 291C-27, was put in effect to help protect first responders when they are performing their duties near or on a roadway.

HRS 291C-27 states in basic terms that when a driver approaches an emergency vehicle with its emergency lights flashing they shall slow down to a safe and prudent speed. They may even have to stop based on the circumstances of the situation. They shall move over to an adjacent lane or even further if safe and necessary to do so.

Emergency vehicle means Police, Fire, EMS, Ocean Safety, Freeway Service Patrol, tow trucks and even some state and county vehicles while personnel are working.

Drivers who move over allow the dedicated workers performing these dangerous and very important emergency services more space to complete their duties. The simple actions of slowing down and moving over reduces the possibility of members of the community in Hawai’i County from being injured or killed.

If officers from the Hawai‘i Police Department observe drivers failing to “move over” they will stop them and enforce the traffic laws appropriately.