The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) are teaming up for Valentine's Day to remind drivers to show law enforcement officers and emergency workers they care by moving over or slowing down, not only on Valentine's Day, but every day. The two agencies have kicked off a new campaign Show you have a heart: Slow down or move over for law enforcement and emergency workers.
TxDOT will display the move-over or slow-down message on their electronic message boards beginning after evening rush hour on Friday, Feb. 12, and ending before rush hour on Monday, Feb. 15. The message boards will read, "If emergency vehicle stopped ahead, move over or slow down. It's the law."
Since the move-over or slow-down law took effect on Sept. 1, 2003, DPS has given 14,288 citations to drivers who have violated the law.
Although both DPS and TxDOT have worked to educate drivers about this law, Highway Patrol troopers and other law enforcement officers continue to see drivers who do not move over or slow down for emergency vehicles. The law applies to stopped emergency vehicles with lights activated, including police, emergency medical service and fire vehicles. The law requires drivers nearing stopped emergency vehicle with emergency lights activated to either slow down or change lanes. The law states a driver must either slow down 20 miles per hour below the speed limit or vacate the lane closest to the stopped emergency vehicle that has emergency lights activated if the road has multiple lanes traveling in the same direction.
The DPS has provided some astonishing video providing a perfect example of what can happen when others don't obey the law. To watch the video click here.
