Understanding Georgia’s Move-Over Law

In the state of Georgia, ensuring the safety of all road users, including emergency and utility service personnel, is a top priority. One crucial legislation that serves this purpose is Georgia’s move-over law.

Officially codified in Georgia Code, Title 40-6-16, this law is designed to protect those working on the roadside, reducing the risk of road construction accidents in situations where they are most vulnerable. Understanding the specifics of this law, its requirements for motorists, the penalties for non-compliance, and its role in overall road safety is essential for anyone driving in Georgia.

The Requirements of Georgia’s Move-Over Law

Georgia’s move-over law requires motorists to move over or slow down for emergency vehicles, utility service vehicles, and towing vehicles that are stopped on the side of the highway with their emergency lights activated.

The Georgia move-over law requires motorist to:

Move Over: As the name implies, the Georgia move-over law requires motorists to move over if there is an accident on the side of the road. If you’re on a multi-lane road and it’s safe to do so, you must move over to the lane furthest away from the stopped vehicle. This provides a safety buffer for the people working by the roadside.
Slow Down: If it’s not safe to change lanes or you’re on a two-lane road, you must reduce your speed to below the posted speed limit. The law requires slowing down to at least 20 mph below the speed limit. If the speed limit is 55 mph or higher, motorists should reduce their speed to 45 mph. However, on roads where the speed limit is below 55 mph, drivers should slow down to 25 mph.

This law applies not only to emergency vehicles like police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks but also to utility service vehicles and tow trucks. It’s important to note that the law’s application is not limited to highways but extends to any road where such vehicles might be stopped with their lights flashing.

Penalties for Violating The Georgia Move Over Law

Failing to adhere to Georgia’s move over law can result in significant consequences. Violators are subject to fines and penalties, which can vary depending on the jurisdiction but typically include a substantial monetary fine. More severe implications might follow if failing to move over or slow down results in a car accident, especially if it leads to injuries or fatalities. In such cases, the penalties could escalate to include criminal charges, with far-reaching effects on the driver’s life and livelihood.

How Georgia’s Driving Laws Protect Motorists

Georgia’s driving laws, including the GA move over law, are structured to enhance road safety and protect all road users. Since the Georgia move over law requires motorists to move over or slow down, the law aims to reduce the risk of accidents involving stationary emergency and utility vehicles on the roadside. This not only protects the personnel working near traffic but also improves safety for all motorists by reducing the likelihood of collisions.

What’s The Point of the Georgia Move Over Law?

Georgia driving laws like Georgia’s move-over law foster a culture of respect and caution on the roads, encouraging drivers to be more aware of their surroundings and the well-being of others. This heightened awareness can contribute to safer driving behaviors overall, further protecting Georgia’s road users.

The main goal of these types of Georgia state driving laws is to reduce the risk of injuries and accidents on the road. These laws can reduce the risk of Georgia truck accidents, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and most importantly pedestrian accidents in the case of roadside workers.

Georgia Move Over Law Violation? Call us Today

If you’ve been in a motor vehicle accident in Georgia that was a result of someone violating Georgia’s move-over law, then call the McArthur Law Firm today. We can make sure that the right person is held accountable and that you receive the compensation you deserve. This may be in the form of punitive damages from a car accident or reimbursed medical costs if the accident resulted in personal injury in Georgia.

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More About Georgia Driving Laws

If you’d like to learn more about Georgia’s move-over law then read our informative articles on Georgia state traffic laws below. We explore every aspect of car accident cases in Georgia that the McArthur Law Firm handles.