There are road signs throughout New Mexico reminding drivers to move over or slow down for stopped emergency or road assistance vehicles. Courtesy/NMDOT

NMDOT News: 

SANTA FE — Saturday, Oct. 16 is National Move Over Day, designated to remind drivers when approaching emergency vehicles with flashing lights to change lanes or slow down.

This allows for a degree of separation between moving vehicles and emergency responders or disabled motorists.

Emergency vehicles include highway patrol, police, sheriff, fire, coroner/medical examiner, ambulance, tow, transportation, utility, corrections, National Guard, and others that carry equipment to save lives at crash sites or incidents, such as those involving a hazardous substance.

Every day, these first responders serve the public and often do so in the middle or on the side of the road. They must have room to work.

“Emergency personnel can only do so much to keep themselves safe when they pull over on the side of the road,” Transportation Secretary Mike Sandoval said. “The rest of the responsibility falls on other motorists. Many drivers seem to think moving over is just an optional courtesy. It’s not optional. If possible, always Move Over. It’s the Law.”

The Move Over Law is enforced in all 50 states. Drivers who do not comply with the Move Over law in New Mexico could face a $117 fine.

Lumber has spilled out from a vehicle onto this highway and road assistance vehicles stop to clean up the lumber as traffic adheres to the Move Over law. Courtesy/NMDOT

A road assistance vehicle has stopped so the traffic behind the vehicle slows down and adheres to the Move Over law. Courtesy/NMDOT