PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The death of a Lower Merion firefighter who was hit by a vehicle on I-76 over the weekend has led officials to remind drivers about a new law recently put into place.
The Move Over Law is aimed at protecting first responders and workers who often have to do their job on the side of the road.
PennDOT Community Relations Coordinator Krys Johnson said the new law was designed specifically to prevent tragedies like the one that took the life of Union Fire Association Firefighter Tom Royds. He died over the weekend while responding to a crash on the Schuylkill Expressway near the Gladwyne exit.
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"It requires drivers to change lanes or slow down to 20 miles per hour slower than the posted speed limit when they pass by an emergency response area," said Johnson.
She explained that her department has prioritized getting a handle on these preventable roadway deaths that have plagued the state's roads.
According to Johnson, 1,412 PennDOT work zone crashes have resulted in 15 deaths.
Pennsylvania Trooper David Beohm said they take a number of different measures to keep themselves safe when they are working on road sides, but drivers need to do their part.
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"People aren't paying attention," said Beohm. "It is somewhat nerve wracking."
License suspensions and up to $10,000 in fines are some of the penalties drivers face for violating the Move Over Law.
If those consequences are not enough to deter people from following the law, Beohm wants them to remember something else.
"That's somebody's loved one out on the highway," said Beohm, "whether it's a cop, fireman, EMS, roadworker or tow guy."