LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Police Department is urging motorists to drive with aloha and obey all traffic laws, including the “move-over law” (Hawai‘i Revised Statutes 291C-27) that requires drivers to slow down to a reasonable speed that is safe under the circumstances and, if possible, make a lane change in order to leave one lane between the driver and an emergency vehicle or situation.
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Police Department is urging motorists to drive with aloha and obey all traffic laws, including the “move-over law” (Hawai‘i Revised Statutes 291C-27) that requires drivers to slow down to a reasonable speed that is safe under the circumstances and, if possible, make a lane change in order to leave one lane between the driver and an emergency vehicle or situation.
The move-over law applies to all first responding vehicles such as police, fire and ambulances, and also includes tow trucks.
According to the law, upon approaching or in front of any emergency vehicle, drivers are required to slow down and make a lane change into the adjacent lane. On two-lane roads, which Kaua‘i predominately consists of, a driver should not cross over the dividing lines. However, the driver is still required to slow down to a reasonable speed that is prudent — typically around 15 miles per hour in a residential area.
While voilators will not get ticketed, it is a criminal violation, a KPD spokesperson clarified. “As applicable, drivers could be charged with negligent injuries or negligent homicide.”
KPD’s reminder of the move-over law is due to the recent death of a tow-truck driver on O‘ahu who was struck and killed by a vehicle while responding to an emergency on the H-2 freeway.
“Slowing down to a reasonable speed and, when possible, moving over to give first responders a safe place to work, is an easy and effective way to save a life,” said KPD Patrol Services Bureau Assistant Chief Mark Begley.
“KPD’s Traffic Safety Section will be out enforcing this law in the coming weeks, so please slow down and, when possible, please move over.”
More information on the law can be found at capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol05_Ch0261-0319/HRS0291C/HRS_0291C-0027.htm.
