Photo Provided In the wake of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Move Over Law campaign, it emphasizes how roadside workers are not just their work titles, including a state trooper who is a mother.

Moving over or slowing down for stopped vehicles with flashing lights can save lives, according to Ohio transportation officials.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is currently running a campaign called “Not Just a Roadside Worker” for the “Move Over Law” in Ohio, which requires drivers to move over and slow down for any stationary vehicle with flashing lights on the side of the road, according to its website.

Lieutenant Brian McFarland from the Ohio State Highway Patrol said workers on the side of the road have their attention on the job at hand, so watching the roads is not their top priority.

“They feel that security when people are moving over, slowing down, reducing the risk of an injury,” he said.

He said usually crashes involving workers on the roadside are not minor or moderate. They are significant crashes where somebody gets hurt or dies.

The law went into effect in 1999 to reduce crashes with law enforcement officers, emergency responders and tow-truck operators but expanded in 2013 to include any stationary vehicle with flashing lights, including construction workers, maintenance and utility crews.

McFarland noted the law went into effect because of several crashes involving ODOT workers, tow-truck workers and state troopers that were struck by vehicles.

Lauren Borrel, ODOT public information officer, said this law is an added layer of protection for ODOT crews working along Ohio roads but also for all roadside workers with flashing lights aside from ODOT.

“Every individual behind the flashing lights is there to do a job and to do it safely,” she said. “Drivers must pay attention and move over so these individuals make it home safely after every shift.”

McFarland said one of the issues is drivers being distracted, whether it be by their cell phones, reaching for something or their radio or impaired by drugs or alcohol. He also said all these roadside workers, including road construction and state troopers, must have their lights on for the law to be applicable.

McFarland said if you see a sign ahead to slow down or move into the left lane, do so before you get to the area where workers are found.

“If you have clear sight distance over there, if you see something ahead, slow down enough to get yourself into the left lane to avoid the mishap of something,” he said. “You never know what’s going to happen once you get close to that vehicle.”

If a driver violates the law, he or she can be pulled over. The trooper can issue a traffic ticket for not moving over, or the trooper will educate the driver on the law in Ohio. McFarland said the law provides safety and security to the workers out there, and the public should be aware of it.

With Labor Day coming up on Sept. 2, McFarland said the traffic on the roads will be heavy and to allow state troopers to do their jobs by moving over.

“We encourage that people move over to allow us to do our jobs, and that we can go home without being injured.”