Troopers target Move Over violators in ODOT work zone

(NORTH RIDGEVILLE) - Ohio's Move Over law is designed to protect the lives of everyone who works on or uses our roadways, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) routinely makes this a priority. The law requires all drivers to move over to an adjacent lane when approaching any stationary vehicle with flashing or rotating lights, including law enforcement officers, emergency responders, road construction, maintenance vehicles, utility crews and tow trucks. If moving over is not possible, motorists should slow down and proceed with caution.
One of the most vulnerable groups of roadside workers are Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) employees. Since January 2025, ODOT employees, vehicles, and equipment, have been struck 88 times. This unfortunately surpasses the 2024 total of 84.

Last week, OSHP Aviation Section and Troopers from the Elyria Post joined ODOT in a work zone where crews were cleaning drainage structures on U.S. Route 20 near Grafton Road in Lorain County. During the approximately two-hour work operation, 21 motorists were cited for violations of Ohio's Move Over law.

From 2020-2024, troopers issued over 30,000 citations to motorists in work zones. Seventy-four percent (74%) of these citations were for speed violations, including more than 11,000 for speeds of 20 MPH or more over the speed limit. Nearly 120 of these citations involved motorists traveling 100 MPH or more.

To date in 2025, there have been more than 3,200 work zone crashes in Ohio. Among those there have been 17 fatal crashes and another 79 crashes where serious injury is suspected.

The law recognizes that sometimes it is not safe or possible to move over because of traffic or weather conditions or because a second lane does not exist. In those situations, slow down and proceed with caution. Watch for people or objects that could enter your travel lane and be prepared to stop.

OSHP and ODOT plan to continue this partnership to raise awareness of the importance of the law.

For more information on Ohio's work zones, and what troopers do to make them safer, visit https://http://www.workzonedashboard.ohio.gov ###

Background: The original Move Over law took effect in 1999 to reduce risk to law-enforcement officers and emergency responders. It was expanded in December 2013 to apply to every stationary vehicle with flashing lights, including road construction, maintenance, and utility crews. The Move Over law now exists in all 50 states.