August 16, 2012
The purpose of North Carolina’s “Move Over Law” was made clear earlier this week when an accident between a Raleigh Police Department squad car and an SUV left the officer and other driver both injured. The Raleigh News & Observer reports the accident occurred around 5:00 p.m. Monday at the corner of Chapanoke Road and South Wilmington Street.
Reports say that the officer was stopped at the intersection when she responded to another a call. She activated both her lights and sirens on the vehicle and began to move into the intersection while the light was red. That’s when the 56-year-old driver of an SUV failed to yield and collided into her cruiser. Both drivers were taken to a local hospital to receive treatment for non-life threatening injuries that resulted from the North Carolina car accident.
The “Move Over Law” in North Carolina states that drivers should move their vehicles over and slow down or stop when an emergency vehicle, such as a police cruiser or ambulance, is flashing its lights. Failure to do so is punishable by a $500 fine.
The North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyers with HensonFuerst say the best way to avoid a collision with an emergency vehicle is to eliminate distractions that take your eyes off the road. It’s also important to keep noise levels from stereos, children, and other forms of entertainment to a minimum when driving.