News

December 4, 2015
'Move Over' Law Public Service Announcement Debuts on the Silver Screen

RICHMOND, Va. – With several highly-anticipated films debuting at the cinema this holiday season, Metro-Richmond moviegoers will have the opportunity to also preview an important public safety message concerning Virginia’s “Move Over” law. For the first time ever, 81 local screens will be running a special public service announcement (PSA) featuring members of Hanover County Fire and EMS, Henrico County Police, New Kent County Sheriff’s Office, New Kent County Fire and EMS, VDOT, Virginia State Police and AAA Mid-Atlantic. The 30-second PSA reminds all motorists to comply with the state Move Over law and will run in the pre-show before each feature presentation. Funding is provided through a grant administered by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Highway Safety Office and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“We couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity to broaden our outreach and inform more individuals about this life-saving law,” says Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “By promoting the PSA at the box office when record attendance is expected in December, our hope is this will shine a much needed spotlight on the move over educational and public safety campaign.”

The PSA will air beginning December 4th and will run between four to six weeks in the following theaters: The Bow Tie Movieland at Boulevard Square (Richmond), Carmike Ovation (Midlothian), Regal Short Pump Stadium 14 (Henrico), Regal Southpark Mall 16 (Colonial Heights), and Regal Virginia Center Stadium 20 (Glen Allen).

Virginia’s "Move Over" law, established in 2002, requires drivers to either move over a lane or, when unable to, to cautiously pass all emergency personnel stopped on the side of a road. The law also applies to emergency response vehicles, highway maintenance vehicles and tow trucks equipped with flashing amber lights.

Virginia State Police in partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation produced the “Move Over” PSA in 2014. It is available in both English and Spanish and can be found on VSP’s YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzxbBouaBM0.

Every state in the nation has a “Move Over” law and violation of the law varies from state to state. Nationwide, 134 law enforcement personnel between 2005-2014 were struck and killed by a vehicle while on-duty.* So far in 2015, there have been eight Virginia State Police Troopers struck while either outside or seated inside their vehicles when working on the highway.

* – National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund