Utilities unite to urge Chattanooga drivers to move over

Move Over Law tile
Move Over Law tile

Chattanooga's major utilities are uniting this week to raise awareness of the "Move Over Law" that requires motorists to slow down and move away from emergency and repair crews working along roads and highways.

Tennessee was the 30th state in 2006 to establish a move over law, which creates a safety zone to protect police, firefighters, other emergency personnel, and utility workers. The law was expanded in 2011 to include recovery vehicles, highway maintenance vehicles, or utility service vehicles when parked with authorized flashing lights.

"We know that utility work can disrupt traffic, but we work to get the job done as quickly and safely as possible so that we all have electricity, heat, and water," Tennesee American Water President Deron Allen said. "We want motorists to be safe and our workers to be safe.

According to the Chattanooga Department of Transportation, the city issued nearly 13,000 "move over" citations from 2006 to 2014.

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