The Habersham County Sheriff's Office is reminding citizens of Georgia's “Move Over” law after two collisions involving police units on Ga. 365 on Saturday night.
According to the Sheriff's Office social media page, the deputy’s Dodge Charger was providing emergency lights to road workers. The unit was also serving as a buffer between the road for the workers when the vehicle was struck from the right rear side. The unit needed to be towed from the scene afterwards.
While units remained on the scene at Ga. 365 southbound, there was a second collision involving a Demorest police officer’s patrol vehicle while they attempted to conduct a traffic stop at Ga. 365 northbound. Georgia State Patrol is currently investigating both incidents.
“These collisions serve as an urgent reminder of the importance of slowing down whenever you see emergency lights or utility vehicles working on or near a roadway,” said Habersham County Sheriff Robin Krockum. “This is not the first time one of our vehicles has been struck trying to keep work crews safe in that area of Ga. 365, but thankfully our personnel and others involved have not been injured in the collisions.”
Georgia’s “Move Over” law requires drivers to move over a lane when possible if emergency vehicles with flashing lights are parked on the shoulder of the highway, working to prevent situations like the recent collisions.
If traffic is too congested and drivers do not feel safe to move over, the law requires drivers to slow down to a reasonable speed below the posted limit and be prepared to stop.
