One-year ago New York State expanded the "Move Over" law. The amended law requires that drivers change lanes -- when possible -- if they see a vehicle with flashing red or amber lights. But it's not only police and fire. It includes EMS, tow trucks, highway maintenance and construction vehicles. State Trooper John McGee is a sergeant for the Thruway in the Buffalo region. He says the law is beginning to work -- but thousands of drivers have violated "Move Over".
"In 2012, troopers assigned to the New York State Thruway, issued over 3,300 tickets for Move Over violations," said Trooper McGee.
If you can't move over, you're urged to slow down and be careful.
Tom Pericak is the Buffalo Division director for the Thruway Authority. He says just last week a local tow-truck operator was struck outside the state police barracks on the Thruway in Buffalo.
"We had a towing operating who was trying to help a vehicle, that slid off the road into a ditch .They were hooking the vehicle up and another car came along and hit that vehicle and injured the operator," said Pericak.
The Move Over law was first highlighted in March of 2011 when state trooper Kevin Dobson was struck and killed along the I-290 in Tonawanda while issuing a traffic ticket.