Fort Myers drivers must follow expanded move over law for safety

FLORIDA, (WINK)—January marks Move Over Month, highlighting the importance of the Move Over Law for road safety. This law, initially enacted in 2002, was expanded in January 2025 to include all vehicles with hazard lights or flares lit, such as cars with flat tires.

The law requires drivers to move over one lane if it is safe to do so. If not possible, drivers should slow down to 20 mph below the speed limit.

From 2021 to 2025, citations increased from nearly 15,000 to almost 20,000, indicating heightened enforcement.

These crashes often occur due to distracted driving, impaired driving, or speeding. Sometimes drivers become fixated on the disabled vehicle and crash into it.

For more on the Florida Move Over law, click here. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides a helpful guide to help better understand the Florida Move Over Law. Click here for more. 

Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles published a press release explaining the move-over law. Click here for more.