Hawai‘i Island police are reminding motorists to drive with caution and move over when they see emergency vehicles on our island roadways.
The “Move Over Law” 291C-27, which was put in effect to help protect first responders when they are performing their duties near or on a roadway, requires motorists to slow down to a prudent speed, or if safe, make a lane change into the adjacent lane of travel when approaching an emergency vehicle with its emergency lights flashing.
An “emergency vehicle” means a:
- Police or Fire department vehicle
- Ocean Safety vehicle
- Emergency Medical Services vehicle
- Freeway Service patrol vehicle
- Department of Public Safety Sheriff Division vehicle
- Hawaiʻi emergency management agency vehicle
- County emergency management vehicle, including Civil Defense vehicle
- Department of Transportation Harbors Division vehicle
- Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement vehicle
- tow truck
In the past month, two officers were struck in their subsidized vehicles by motorists who were not paying attention and not moving over or providing officers with ample room on the road shoulder. Fortunately, the officers were not seriously injured.
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