OSHP collaborates with 6-State Trooper Project to target ‘move over’ violations

The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) has joined forces with law enforcement agencies from five other states as part of the 6-State Trooper Project to crack down on “move over” violations. This high-visibility enforcement initiative commenced on Sunday, July 16 at 12:01 a.m. and will continue until Saturday, July 22 at 11:59 p.m.

The collaborative effort includes the Indiana State Police, Kentucky State Police, Michigan State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, West Virginia State Police, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The aim is to raise awareness and enforce laws pertaining to the “move over” requirement.

OSHP has experienced a concerning number of incidents involving trooper cruisers being struck in crashes related to the failure of drivers to adhere to the “move over” law. Since 2018, there have been a total of 61 crashes in Ohio where the troopers’ vehicles were involved due to “move over” violations. In response, the Patrol issued 26,739 citations for “move over” violations during the same period. These incidents tragically resulted in the deaths of two civilians, while 56 officers and civilians sustained injuries. However, in 2022, the number of such crashes decreased to 11, marking a 38 percent reduction compared to 2021.

Colonel Charles A. Jones, Superintendent of the Patrol, expressed concern over the frequency of crashes caused by the failure to move over, emphasizing the importance of complying with this safety measure. “Too many times our troopers have seen the aftermath or been involved in a crash where the driver failed to move over,” Colonel Jones stated. “Moving over protects the lives of everyone who works on or uses our freeways.”

Under Ohio law, all drivers are required to change lanes and move over to an adjacent lane when approaching a vehicle parked on the roadside displaying flashing or rotating lights. If changing lanes is not possible due to traffic congestion, weather conditions, or the absence of a second lane, motorists must reduce their speed and proceed with caution. It is worth noting that a similar move over law is in effect in all 50 states.

The 6-State Trooper Project, a collaborative effort among multiple law enforcement agencies, focuses on enhancing highway safety, criminal patrol, and intelligence sharing. By pooling their resources and expertise, these agencies aim to provide combined and coordinated law enforcement and security services.

Members of the public are encouraged to report instances of drug activity and dangerous or impaired drivers by dialing #677 in Ohio or 911.