New Law Takes Effect Soon

Published by admin on Mon, 07/13/2020 - 9:34am

Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Nathan Ludwig believes a new law requiring drivers to move over if possible for flashing lights is a matter of “common sense.”

Noted on the department’s Facebook page as taking effect July 1, the law comes a few weeks after a grim anniversary.

Speaking by phone Thursday, Ludwig noted mention on the page of a death on the side of the road.

The page notes this as the June 16, 1985 death of Trooper Charles Whitney. Handing out a ticket, Whitney was struck and died instantly.

Read more in the June 26 edition of the Calmar Courier.

Sidebar: Starting July 1st - The “move over” law will include ALL vehicles.

The operator of a motor vehicle approaching a stationary motor vehicle that is continually displaying its emergency signal lamps flashing simultaneously shall approach the vehicle with due caution AND

a. Make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the stationary motor vehicle if possible in the existing safety and traffic conditions.

b. If a lane change under paragraph “a” would be impossible, prohibited by law, or unsafe, reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed for the existing road and traffic conditions, which speed shall be less than the posted speed limit

Information posted by the Iowa State Patrol via Facebook June 20