Tennessee adds more vehicles to yield for in Move Over Law

Courtesy of Bradley County Sheriff’s Office

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The state of Tennessee updated their Move Over Law this year to include more types of vehicles.

The Move Over Law requires drivers to change lanes to avoid emergency vehicles on the side of the road, when possible. When it isn’t possible, the law says drivers must at least slow down.

The Department of Homeland Safety’s website says this law “creates a safety zone to protect police, firefighters, other emergency personnel, and utility workers.”

According to Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, the state modified this law on July 1 this year. Officials added any stopped vehicle on the side of the road with their flashers on to the list of vehicles to move over and avoid.

The law reads:

“Upon approaching a stationary motor vehicle that is located on the shoulder, emergency lane, or median and the vehicle is giving a signal by use of flashing lights, a person who drives an approaching vehicle shall:

Proceeding with due caution, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that of the motor vehicle, if possible, with due regard to safety and traffic conditions, if on a highway having at least four lanes with not less than two lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle; or proceeding with due caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions, if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe.”