News brief: Sheriff’s Office asks drivers to ‘move over’

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The Jefferson County Public Works Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office are reminding drivers of the state’s “Move Over Law” and to exercise additional caution during winter months. By law, motorists must reduce driving speeds and change lanes or give wide berths to any stationary or slow-moving emergency vehicles, police vehicles, tow trucks, construction or maintenance vehicles, solid waste vehicles, and utility service vehicles using flashing lights. Failure to do so is considered reckless endangerment of emergency and work zone workers and can lead to fines, jail time, and/or loss of license. “Remember, if you come upon a vehicle that displays flashing yellow, red or blue lights, you are required to comply with the requirements to slow down and move over,” Jefferson County Sheriff Joe Nole said. “If you see a construction or emergency vehicle stopped on the road, remember, there is probably someone out working close to passing traffic. When you add rain, fog or freezing temperatures to the equation, law enforcement, fire personnel and others working on the road need your help more than ever to make sure we go home safe at night.” To reduce icy road conditions, Jefferson County applies rock salt coated with liquid calcium chloride to heavily traveled arterials and areas where roadway ice frequently forms. The anti-icing treatment helps to prevent the formation of frost and black ice on the road and, in the case of snowfall, prevents the snow from bonding to the road surface when it is packed down by traffic. “When our crews are working on a section of road, either with flashing lights on their vehicle or with alternating traffic, it is a work zone and carries risk to our personnel and to drivers,” Road Maintenance Superintendent Matt Stewart said. “Please give our equipment operators plenty of room, especially in icy and snowy conditions. Driving a truck with a wide snow plow while spreading salt or sand is a demanding task, and other drivers being careful around those trucks helps keep everyone safe.”