Lawmaker, WPPA and Others Work
to Promote State’s “Move-Over” Law
(2/27/07)
MILWAUKEE –State Sen. Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee), WPPA Assistant Executive Director Jim Palmer, and several other law enforcement representatives gathered yesterday in Milwaukee to announce the beginning of a new public service billboard campaign in Milwaukee County to promote Wisconsin’s “Move-Over” Law.
The “Move-Over” Law requires drivers to move over a lane or reduce their speed if a lane change is not safe when passing any emergency or maintenance vehicle stopped on the side of the road or in traffic.
Two outdoor advertising companies, Lamar Advertising and Clear Channel, agreed to be a part of the project, even designing and displaying the warning signs for free.
“In the wake of recent events, such as the tragic accident that injured [Milwaukee County] Deputy Timothy Johnson, it has become apparent that drivers need to be reminded that Wisconsin law requires them to slow down and move over when they see emergency vehicles,” said Sen. Plale.
According to Law Enforcement Memorial Fund statistics, 151 law enforcement officers were killed on the job last year, with traffic-related incidents claiming more lives than any other cause of death.
