At a Delaware Volunteer Firefighter’s Association luncheon on September 19th, Governor John Carney signed into law a bill that heightens penalties for drivers who fail to move over for vehicles parked on the shoulder.
Sponsored by Representative Jeff Hilovsky, the new legislation aims to protect first responders, construction workers, utility crews, and even stranded motorists.
The law mandates that drivers either change lanes or slow down by at least 20 mph when approaching vehicles on the roadside.
Striking a first responder on duty is now classified as a class F felony.
Representative Hilovsky emphasized the safety of roadside workers, stating, It’s somebody’s brother, somebody’s son, somebody’s dad Let’s do the right thing.
John Peterson, President of the Sussex County Fire Police Association, backed the bill, sharing that previous penalties were insufficient, citing an instance where a firefighter’s life was endangered for a mere $45 fine.
The hope is that the new law will increase awareness and save lives. Additional provisions, such as adding points to violators’ licenses, may be introduced in the future.