Oklahoma Highway Patrol To Crack Down On Drivers Not Following Slow Down, Move Over Law

Even though Oklahoma has a move-over law, several agencies say people need to be reminded because drivers are more distracted than ever.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers will be writing tickets next week to anyone who is not following the move-over law.

The Department of Public Safety says accidents like this are easily preventable, but they keep happening.

The slow down, move over law requires drivers to move over or at least slow down if you see a vehicle with flashing lights on the side of the road.

If you don't, it's a $1,000 fine. 

"That's a husband or a wife, a mother or father, that's out there trying to do their job, that doesn't get to go home that day," said Commissioner Tim Tipton with the Department of Public Safety. 

This law applies not just when law enforcement is on the side of the road but also to wreckers, highway workers and any car pulled over with flashing lights.

Trooper Eric Foster has responded to several of these wrecks, but it happened to him in August 2021 when someone going 65 m.p.h. slammed into his patrol car while he was on the side of the road.

"I looked up and saw headlights coming at me, kind of one of those things you don't believe what you're seeing. Are they going to get over for that closure or not? They didn't," Foster said.

It's also happened to Trooper Russell Callicoat six times as well.

He says the last time, he'd pulled over a driver on I-244 in Tulsa, and an impaired driver slammed into his car.

Callicoat says troopers will be out next week making sure people remember this is the law.

"We will not be giving warnings for this; we're letting everybody know, if you do not move over or slow down for an emergency vehicle or a vehicle with flashing lights on the shoulder, you will receive a citation," Callicoat said.

If you are pulled over for the second time for breaking this law, the $1,000 fine increases to $2,500.