Mason-Backed Move Over Task Force Shares Findings on Roadway Safety

GURNEE, Ill. – State Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, is sharing her support for a report recently published by the Move Over Task Force that offers recommendations on ways to better protect first responders while they are stopped on the side of roadways. The task force was created to examine ways to strengthen the state’s Move Over law, which requires motorists to change lanes or slow down when passing a vehicle that is stationary on the side of a road and displaying flashing warning lights. Mason was a sponsor of Senate Bill 2038, legislation from the 101st General Assembly that created the Move Over Task Force.

“Year after year, first responders are injured and killed due to careless drivers not exercising appropriate caution when they are passing emergency vehicles on the side of roadways,” Mason said. “While the initial passage of the Move Over law and recent amendments to it have been critical first steps in bringing an end to these senseless car crashes, there is still more work to do to ensure our laws are keeping our first responders as safe as possible.”

In its report, the Move Over Task Force put forth several recommendations to better protect first responders from crashes while they are stopped on the side of roads. Some of the task force’s recommendations include changing the Move Over law to require drivers to move over and slow down,  rather than its current requirement for drivers to move over or slow down, and expanding statewide tracking of Move Over law violations. Since Jan. 1 of this year, 10 Illinois State Troopers have been involved in car crashes caused by Move Over law violations.

“The Move Over Task Force’s report offers well thought out guidance on actions we should take as a legislature to make our roadways safer for our brave first responders,” Mason said. “One crash due to a Move Over law violation is one too many. For the safety of our first responders, it’s time to get to work to implement the recommendations in the Move Over Task Force’s report as soon as possible.”