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Pennsylvania is adding penalties and expanding definitions involving motorists who endanger the lives of emergency response personnel on the road.
Motorists will now face steeper sanctions if they do not take measures to avoid or slow down when emergency vehicles are pulled over on the side of the road, per the newest version of the "Steer Clear" law now known as the "Move Over" law.
According to the law, motorists must give a lane of space between themselves and emergency response vehicles, or at least slow 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit when approaching a police, fire or EMS vehicle pulled over on the side of the road, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
"It's very important for the safety of the emergency responders and the general public," said Nathan Deremer, Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police Chief. "Expanding it for the public was something that needed to happen."
Emergency response vehicles could include those from police, fire, ambulance agencies. However, the law now extends to stopped tow trucks and maintenance vehicles.
A similar law passed in 2018 also protects trash and recycling collection vehicles.
Motorists know a scene is an emergency situation area when emergency responders have their emergency lights turned on, road flares deployed or traffic caution signs such as cones deployed.
"Imagine doing your job alongside a highway when cars are going by 55 or 60 miles per hour. Anything could happen if a person accidentally steps back. It's really about giving them the space they need to avoid any kind of crash," Kim Smith, a safety press officer with PennDOT District 3, said.
"Every year, there are deaths of emergency responders stopped along the road," said Kristin Smith, Lock Haven city police chief. "Being aware of distractions and being further from accidents helps prevent that."
Motorists must now also move over for commercial and non-commercial vehicles defined as disabled, according to Smith.
A disabled vehicle is one that is parked alongside the road and has two of the three following safety measures deployed: They have their hazard lights turned on, they deploy road flares or are using caution signs or traffic control devices.
Drivers who do not comply face incrementally steep fines of $500, $1,000 and $2,000 fines for each subsequent offense.
Additionally, third-time offenders are required to have their license suspended for 90 days, which is increased to six months if someone is seriously injured or killed because of a failure to comply with the Move Over law.
Those who seriously injure or kill someone near a disabled vehicle could face additional fines of up to $10,000 and a 6-month suspension of a drivers' license.
Finally, fines are doubled for repeat traffic violations when they are committed in an emergency response area when first responders are present.
It may be difficult to tell if a vehicle matches that descriptor, however. Smith told motorists who are in doubt to move over and slow down anyways out of courtesy for people along the road.
According to the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, 93 percent of American drivers are now returning to the roadway, and 62 percent plan to travel by car this summer for vacations.
"As drivers return to the road after months of limited travel, we are seeing an increase in the severity of roadway incidents impacting our road crews," said Craig Shuey, PA Turnpike Chief Operating Officer.