- The Massachusetts Move Over Law: Requires drivers to slow down or move over when passing stopped emergency or roadside vehicles with flashing lights to protect workers like first responders and tow truck drivers.
- Penalties for Violations: Can include a fine of up to $100 and points on your driving record, which may lead to higher insurance premiums. Violating the law can also result in accidents, making the driver liable for damages.
- The Move Over Law Covers: Passenger vehicles, police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, tow trucks, and road maintenance vehicles. Drivers must move over or slow down when approaching these vehicles on the side of the road.
- Safety Benefits: The Move Over Law helps protect roadside workers and reduces the risk of accidents for both them and the public by creating a safer buffer zone.
On This Page
- Understanding the Move Over Law in Massachusetts
- What Does the Massachusetts Move Over Law Require From Drivers?
- Key Vehicles Covered by the Massachusetts Move Over Law
- Penalties for Violating the Move Over Law in Massachusetts
- Why the Move Over Law Is Critical for Safety on Massachusetts Roads
- Contact DiBella Law for Legal Advice on Massachusetts Traffic Laws
The Massachusetts Move Over Law requires all vehicles traveling on highways to slow down or move over when passing a stopped emergency or repair vehicle. The goal is to protect first responders and roadside workers, such as tow truck drivers.
Violators face consequences like fines and increased insurance premiums. More importantly, they put workers and other motorists at risk. In addition, if a violation results in an accident, the victim can pursue a civil lawsuit to recover compensation for their injuries and damages.
At DiBella Law Injury and Accident Lawyers, we are committed to helping all Massachusetts drivers understand traffic laws and stay safe on the Commonwealth’s roads.
Understanding the Move Over Law in Massachusetts
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 17 law enforcement officers died in 2024 because drivers failed to keep a safe distance. The MA Move Over Law, sometimes called the Massachusetts Tow Truck Law, is part of a nationwide effort to reduce these deaths and injuries.
Enacted in 2009, the Move Over Law requires drivers to move over or slow down when approaching an emergency or maintenance vehicle stopped on the side of the road. As car accident attorneys, we’re committed to helping drivers understand and abide by these laws. Doing so is an essential step toward avoiding accidents and legal penalties.
What Does the Massachusetts Move Over Law Require From Drivers?
The Move Over Law, codified in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 89 Section 7C, applies to all drivers when approaching a stationary emergency, recovery, or maintenance vehicle with flashing lights.
Under the law, a vehicle operator must slow down when approaching a stopped emergency, recovery, or maintenance vehicle with flashing lights. If the moving vehicle is traveling on a highway with at least two lanes moving in the same direction, the motorist must move to an adjacent lane further from the response vehicle if possible. If not, the operator must reduce speed to a reasonable and safe level.
The obligations imposed by the law are among a driver’s core duty of care owed to others on the road, and compliance is not optional. When an official vehicle has stopped on the roadside, the driver is legally obligated to move over or slow down.
Violating the law can have serious consequences. At DiBella Law, we are committed to keeping everyone safe on the roads and holding accountable those who harm others by driving negligently, carelessly, or recklessly.
Key Vehicles Covered by the Massachusetts Move Over Law
The Move Over Law applies to all emergency response, roadway maintenance, and automobile recovery vehicles in Massachusetts, including the following:
- Police cruisers
- Fire trucks
- Ambulances
- Highway maintenance vehicles
- Tow trucks
Knowing which vehicles the Move Over Law applies to can help drivers avoid violations and serious accidents. Our attorneys are here to answer any questions you have about these requirements.
Penalties for Violating the Move Over Law in Massachusetts
Failure to comply with the Move Over Law can result in penalties. Drivers convicted of violating the law face a fine of up to $100. Drivers may also receive “points” on their record under the Safe Driver Insurance Plan. Depending on the number of points on your record, you may be hit with an insurance surcharge and have to pay increased premiums.
Lawmakers have recently proposed stiffer penalties for repeat offenders and violations that result in accidents. However, these measures have yet to gain traction.
Violations of the Move Over Law too frequently result in accidents that injure or kill first responders, maintenance workers, or any other parties. These violations may constitute driver negligence, making them liable for the victim’s losses.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by someone who has violated the Move Over Law, a Boston car accident attorney can help pursue the justice and compensation you deserve.
Why the Move Over Law Is Critical for Safety on Massachusetts Roads
The Move Over Law aims to improve safety on Massachusetts roads for highway workers, first responders, and the general public. Police officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, tow truck drivers, road maintenance workers, and others who work along the state’s roadways are highly vulnerable when leaving their vehicles. The law creates a wider buffer zone, potentially saving the lives of dedicated professionals.
The general public also benefits. With a safer zone for those on the roadside, there is a lower risk of secondary accidents and crashes involving stopped passenger cars. We believe that by helping people to understand and abide by these laws, our firm can contribute to public safety and support our public servants.
Contact DiBella Law for Legal Advice on Massachusetts Traffic Laws
If you have questions about the Move Over Law or have been involved in an accident caused by a violator, DiBella Law can help. We are dedicated to protecting drivers’ safety on Massachusetts roads and have served injured accident victims for over 20 years. We provide aggressive yet personalized legal representation, recovering millions in settlements and verdicts to make a difference for countless satisfied clients.
Contact us online or call 855-342-3552 today for a free consultation.