Saturday (Oct. 19, 2024) was National Move Over Day.
Shawn Steward with Triple-A South Dakota says all 50 states have a move over law that requires drivers to give space to vehicles that are disabled or stopped along the road.
Steward says night time carries the greatest risk to people who end up on the side of the road.
South Dakota law says, upon approaching from any direction any stopped authorized emergency vehicle making use of red visual signals meeting the requirements of this title, the driver of every other vehicle shall come to a complete stop before reaching the stopped emergency vehicle and may, unless otherwise directed, proceed with caution only after ascertaining that it is safe to do so, and upon approaching from any direction any stopped vehicle making use of amber, yellow, or blue warning lights, the driver of every other vehicle shall:
- If driving on an interstate highway or other highway with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction as the vehicle, merge into the lane farthest from the vehicle at least three hundred feet before the vehicle and proceed with caution, unless otherwise directed; or
- If driving on a two lane highway, at least three hundred feet before the vehicle, slow to a speed that is at least twenty miles per hour less than the posted speed limit or five miles per hour when the speed limit is posted at twenty miles per hour or less and proceed with caution, unless otherwise directed.
A violation is a Class 2 misdemeanor and has a minimum fine of $270.
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