See hazard lights ahead? Move over in honor of Ted Foss after law expanded to include passenger vehicles
Aug. 31, 2023
The Minnesota Legislature expanded the Ted Foss Move Over Law this year to include stalled or disabled vehicles on a street or highway. If you see hazard lights or emergency vehicles on the shoulder, move over.Picture this: You're driving down the road, and your car breaks down. You pull over, turn on your hazard lights and call either roadside assistance or 911. Then you settle in to wait for help to come.
Would you want cars speeding by in the lane right next to you? Or would you want the extra space of a traffic lane between you?
You'd want the space. It's common courtesy, as well as a state law, to move over for stopped vehicles on the shoulder of the road.
The Minnesota Legislature expanded the Ted Foss Move Over Law this year to include stalled or disabled vehicles on a street or highway. The law, named after Minnesota State Patrol Trooper Ted Foss, previously covered any emergency vehicle, construction vehicle or tow truck. As of July 1, it also applies to any vehicle with its hazard lights activated. While we recommend people experiencing car trouble stay in their vehicle with their seat belt on, the law also specifically calls on drivers to move over for people visibly present outside the vehicle.
Long story short: If drivers see any vehicle with flashing lights parked on the side of a road with two or more lanes going the same direction, they need to move over one full lane to give them space. In situations where it's not safe to move over (like heavy traffic), drivers must slow down.
Failing to either change lanes or slow down endangers other drivers and can leave you facing a fine of more than $100.
The law got its name from a tragedy. Cpl. Ted Foss was conducting a traffic stop Aug. 31, 2000, on the shoulder of Interstate 90 when he was hit and killed by a passing vehicle. Foss left behind his wife, Andrea, and two young children.
Trooper Foss's story shows why it is particularly important to move over for emergency vehicles. While we ask the typical motorist to stay in their vehicle, troopers need to get out of their vehicles to do their job.
Ultimately, every trooper's job is to make sure you get where you're going safely. Although their job carries a certain amount of risk, we can help return the favor — and honor Trooper Foss's memory — by obeying the law that bears his name.
