Ruhl and McGregor Applaud Passage of Highway Safety Legislation

State Representatives Margaret Ann Ruhl (R-Mount Vernon) and Ross McGregor (R-Springfield) announced that the Ohio House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 137, which requires vehicles to slow down, proceed with caution and, if possible, change lanes when passing highway maintenance vehicles and Public Utilities Commission (PUCO) vehicles that are stopped.

Highway maintenance vehicles include snow plows, traffic lane stripers, road sweepers, mowing machines, cement trucks and other vehicles used for highway maintenance activities. In order to protect the safety of drivers and highway workers, the bill requires that vehicles attempt to change lanes cautiously to avoid being in the lane adjacent to the stationary highway maintenance vehicle. Depending on weather and traffic, the law specifies that changing lanes is not always an option but vehicles are required to slow down and proceed with caution. Regulations differ depending on the number of lanes.

Currently, state law requires similar actions when approaching a stopped public safety vehicle, emergency vehicle or road service vehicle as part of the “Move Over, Slow Down” initiative. S.B. 137 adds to this law.

“I am very pleased to see the additions to the already important Move Over, Slow Down Law,” said Rep. McGregor. “I encourage any initiatives that promote our motoring public to drive as safely as possible.”

S.B. 137 is the companion bill to House Bill 172, which passed the House in June. S.B. 137 will now go to the governor for his signature.