CLEVELAND — Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers are joining Ohio Department of Transportation work sites to help enforce Ohio’s Move Over law.

The law requires drivers to move over into an adjacent lane when approaching any vehicle with flashing or rotating lights stopped on the roadside. If shifting lanes is not possible, drivers should slow down and proceed with caution.

The Move Over law exists in all 50 states, but one of the most vulnerable groups of roadside workers are Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) employees. 

Since Jan. 2022, ODOT employees, vehicles and equipment have been struck 83 times. 

One of the most recent incidents was on I-77 northbound in Summit County when a dump truck veered off the roadway and hit an ODOT vehicle with an employee inside. The vehicles burst into flames, and both the ODOT employee and dump truck driver suffered serious injuries.

“Our men and women put their lives on the line every day to provide a safe and reliable transportation system for the travelling public,” said ODOT District 12 Deputy Director John Picuri in a news release. “We are thankful for what our partners at the Ohio State Highway Patrol do to keep our work zones safe and ask that the motoring public do their part by slowing down and moving over.”

Between 2017 and 2021, troopers issued more than 26,000 citations for violating the Move Over Law. Men accounted for 59% of the citations and 36% were issued between June and August. 

Akron Post troopers joined an overnight work zone on I-76 eastbound in Summit County last week while Warren District Commercial Enforcement troopers joined ODOT crews on I-80 in Trumbull County for enforcement and to raise awareness.

Between the two locations, a combined six hours worked resulted in 18 motorists being cited for violating the law. 

“Moving over helps protect the lives of everyone who works on or uses our roadways,” said Lt. Jonathan Ganley, Akron Post commander. “Moving over isn’t just the law; it’s the right thing to do.”

For more information on Ohio’s work zones, and what troopers do to make them safer, click here.