We at Planet Ford in Spring (serving The Woodlands, Cypress, greater Houston, Conroe) greatly appreciate our first responders! Fire fighters with the Spring Fire Department are shooting commercials at our Planet Ford store to educate and remind drivers what to do when first responders are approaching with their emergency lights on. Planet Ford in Spring has teamed up with the Spring Fire Department to share the importance of the Move Over/Slow Down law.
Did you know car accidents occur more frequently in the summer?
Because of this, we want to remind drivers of the laws in place when it comes to first responders. If you see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road with the emergency lights on, remember the law: Move over, slow down.
The Texas Department of Public Safety states that the Move Over/Slow Down law requires drivers to move over or slow down in the case that emergency vehicles- including police, fire, EMS, Texas Department of Transportation vehicles and tow trucks- are stopped on the side of the road.
More specifically, the law states a driver must:
- Vacate the lane that is closest to the applicable vehicles stopped on the side of the road (if it is a multilane road), or
- Slow down to 20 miles below the posted speed limit (or to 5 mph if the speed limit is below 25 mph)
What about when an emergency vehicle is approaching?
David E. Persse, M.D., physician doctor for the City of Houston’s Emergency Medical Services, told the Texas Medical Center, “When you see an ambulance or any emergency vehicle approach you from behind, you should yield over to the right side of the street and come to a complete stop until the vehicle passes.” Dr. Persse added that if there is no room to move to the right, drivers should not proceed through the red light to make room for an ambulance, fire truck or other emergency vehicles.
“You really shouldn’t be pushed through a red light by an emergency vehicle from behind,” Dr. Persse said. “If the light is red and all the lanes are full, you have to wait until the light changes, and then you proceed and get over to the right as safely as you can.”
We want our Planet Ford customers to have a safe and fun summer. The Planet Ford team and the Spring Fire Department hope that you remember these laws the next time you see an emergency vehicle with its lights on. Remember: Move over, slow down. It’s the law.