A 3-minute lesson from the Oklahoma course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Police, tow operators and road crews work beside moving traffic. Oklahoma's Move Over law protects them by making you change lanes away from a stopped vehicle with flashing lights, or slow down if you can't. It also prevents the second crash that often follows the first.
Move Over Law (Bernardo-Mills Law, 47 O.S. § 11-314)
When approaching any stationary vehicle with flashing lights pulled to the side of the road, move over a lane if safe to do so, or slow down and use caution.
Any crash that occurs because of another crash or incident, often because a driver is distracted by the sight of a crash and takes their eyes off the road.
A Traffic Incident Management scene: the area where a roadway incident occurred and emergency responders, law enforcement, tow operators or others are working to manage and clear it.
TIM scenes are dangerous: responders are at risk of being hit by passing vehicles. Move Over laws protect them by requiring you to change lanes away from the scene if possible, or slow down and proceed with caution.
TIM scene layout: advance warning, transition and activity areas
Put it into practice
On a four-lane interstate, a tow truck with flashing lights is on the right shoulder and you're in the right lane. Check your mirror and blind spot and move to the left lane. If traffic won't let you over, slow down and pass carefully, eyes on the road.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
What must you do when passing a stopped vehicle with flashing lights on a multi-lane road, if it's safe?
Speed up to pass quickly
Turn on your hazard lights and pass
Stop completely in your lane
Move to another lane
Answer: Move to another lane
Oklahoma's Move Over law requires changing to a lane not next to the stopped vehicle when it's safe.
