Saturday night, two State Patrol officers ended up in the hospital after being hit. The officers were in separate cruisers that were struck on the on-ramp from I-494 to northbound I-35W. Alcohol is believed to be involved. These are officers who are on the roads doing their jobs. Protecting society and doing their work in full uniform with lights going. I have had the honor on a number of occasions to represent some of Minnesota's finest. Usually, they are hit by cars going too fast and not giving them the room they need.
Update: CBS posted a interesting interview from one of the Toppers involved.
Minnesota law requires all cars to move over one lane when emergency vehicles are on the road. Defying the law can mean a ticket and fine of $115 to $125, depending on the county. From 2005 to 2009, the patrol cited 9,173 motorists for "Move Over" violations.
It's pretty simple to keep those actions in mind. While the law doesn't directly require a reduction in speed , it's the safe thing to do and it is taking into consideration the conditions at the time.
If it's wintry weather and the emergency vehicles are dealing with a car in the ditch, consider for a minute how the car got there. It's probably a case of the road itself being especially slippery in the very same area. A couple of times a year, we will be involved in layered car accidents where one car hits another and within the next ten minutes, two or three more impacts take place. A good lookout and slowing down will make a difference. Also if you are in an accident, make sure you clear yourself and all passengers away from the dangers of oncoming cars.
