State Patrol urges motorists to move over following injury to trooper

The Minnesota State Patrol’s message to motorists is: move over.

Troopers are underscoring the importance of the law following a January 17 crash in which the squad of a state trooper was struck while the trooper was assisting a motorist on the shoulder of I-35W near Forest Lake. Lt. Chris Edstrom suffered minor injuries.

“Winter road conditions can lead to an increased number of vehicles going off the road, and as a result, more emergency responders are called on to assist on the shoulder of the road,” said Lt. Eric Roeske of the Minnesota State Patrol. “Motorists need to be alert for flashing lights and move over to ensure we can do our jobs safely and the people we are attending to are out of danger.”

Roeske says motorists need to drive at safe speeds for road conditions and motorists who are waiting for assistance off the road should remain in their vehicles with their seat belts fastened.

During this winter (November 1, 2010 to the present), 22 trooper vehicles have been hit (compared to 10 during this same period last winter) and five troopers were injured (compared to four injured last winter).

During the last five years (2005-2009), at least 100 trooper vehicles were hit and 31 troopers were injured. The State Patrol cited 9,173 motorists for Move Over violations during this five year period.

Minnesota’s “Ted Foss Move Over” law is more than 10 years old. Foss was killed by a passing vehicle as he was conducting a traffic stop on the shoulder of I-90 in Winona in 2000.

Minnesota’s “Move Over” law:

• When traveling on a road with two or more lanes, you must keep over one full lane away from stopped emergency vehicles with flashing lights activated, including ambulance, fire, law enforcement, maintenance and construction vehicles.

• Reduce speed if you are unable to safely move over a lane.

• Failing to take these actions endangers personnel who provide critical and life-saving services.

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