ISP Tpr. Andrew Winzenread died in 1997

State police release results of Slow Down and Move Over Enforcement Project

Contributed By:The 411 News

Troopers from the Indiana State Police issued warnings and tickets to 309 drivers during a week of concentrated enforcement of the states Move Over Law, April 14-20. Troopers focused on catching drivers who failed to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles.

The effort was coordinated with state police agencies from five other states – Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

“In Indiana, we still have too many emergency vehicles being struck by inattentive or distracted motorists. And in neighboring Illinois, three state troopers have been struck and killed since the beginning of 2019,” said Capt. David R. Bursten, ISP Chief Public Information Officer

With the increase in construction zones, Bursten said, “This was an opportune time to utilize special patrols not only to find those drivers who violate the law, but to educate the public on the importance of slowing down and moving over for emergency vehicles.”

Troopers concentrated efforts on all emergency vehicles, including construction vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances, police vehicles, maintenance crews, and roadside service crews.

Drivers that were stopped failed to change lanes or to reduce speed for stationary and moving emergency vehicles.

In 1999 Indiana was the first state in the nation to pass the Move Over Law, requiring motorists to move to an adjacent traffic lane, or reduce speed by 10 mph below the posted speed limit if unable to change lanes safely when driving by a stationary police, fire or ambulance emergency vehicle stopped along the side of the road.

Over the years Indiana's law has expanded to include stationary recovery, utility service, solid waste haulers, road, street highway maintenance vehicles, as well as a stationary survey or construction vehicles when displaying alternately flashing amber lights.

Indiana’s law was originally crafted and passed as the result of the death of ISP Tpr. Andrew Winzenread who was killed in April of 1997 while assisting a stranded motorist on I-74 in Dearborn County.

On April 25, 1997 while patrolling I-74 in Decatur County, Trooper Winzenread stopped to assist a motorist who had run out of gas. Returning to the stranded vehicle after getting gas, Trooper Winzenread exited his patrol car and was struck by an oncoming semi-tractor trailer. Trooper Winzenread died at the scene.

Now, in 2019, every state, with the exception of Hawaii has some form of a move-over-law.

Some violations associated with Driving While Distracted include speeding, following too close, drifting from lane to lane and failing to signal turns or lane changes.

“It is not the goal of the Indiana State Police to simply write tickets, Bursten said. “We encourage and desire voluntary compliance with traffic laws to ensure the safety of the public as well as the safety of public safety professionals. Our historical enforcement of the move over law reveals about 50% of persons stopped for this violation received a written warning, but citations are issued for particularly egregious violations of the law.”

From the start of 2019 to April 1, troopers issued 144 tickets and 239 warnings for violation of the Move-Over-Law. Indiana State Police vehicles struck when not in motion totaled 13 in 2017, 11 in 2018, and to-date in 2019, 10.

In last week’s special project, 115 tickets and 194 warnings were issued.

Story Posted:04/26/2019