October 17 is National Slow Down, Move Over Day, a good excuse to brush up on one of Oregon’s most misunderstood traffic laws. Most drivers know to pull over for an ambulance with its siren on. Fewer realize the Move Over law also covers a tow truck, an ODOT crew, or an ordinary car on the shoulder with its hazards blinking. Here’s what the law says, why it matters, and how to handle it safely.
What Oregon’s Move Over Law Requires
Oregon’s Move Over law is ORS 811.147, officially titled “failure to maintain safe distance from motor vehicle.” It applies when you approach a stopped vehicle that is displaying warning lights or hazard lights, or a person signaling distress with emergency flares or emergency signs.
What you have to do depends on the road:
- On a highway with two or more lanes in your direction: either change into a lane that is not next to the stopped vehicle, or slow to at least 5 mph below the speed limit.
- On a two-lane, two-way road: slow to at least 5 mph below the speed limit.
The law doesn’t apply when the stopped vehicle is in a designated parking area.
This isn’t just about police cars and fire trucks. The law originally covered emergency vehicles, tow trucks, roadside assistance vehicles, and ambulances. A 2017 change, effective January 1, 2018, extended it to any stopped vehicle with hazards on. As ODOT puts it, move over or slow down for flashing lights of any color, whether they’re on a tow truck, a public works or ODOT vehicle, a police car, or a car or semi with its hazards on.
Why It Matters
The shoulder is one of the most exposed places to be on a highway. Someone changing a tire or a tow operator hooking up a car may be just a few feet from traffic moving at highway speed.
According to ODOT, Oregon recorded 207 crashes involving vehicles parked off the road from 2016 to 2020. Those crashes killed 7 people and seriously injured 13 more, and nearly half involved medium or heavy trucks.
Knowing the rule and following it are also two different things. In its release for this year’s Slow Down, Move Over Day, AAA Oregon/Idaho pointed to research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. More than 90% of drivers surveyed said they moved over or slowed down the last time they passed someone stopped on the shoulder. Yet earlier roadside observations found that only about 64% of drivers actually did, and roughly a third did neither.
How to Move Over Safely: Practical Tips
The goal is to give stopped vehicles room without creating a new hazard. A sudden swerve or hard brake can cause the very crash you’re trying to avoid.
- Scan far ahead. The earlier you spot flashing lights, the more time you have to plan a smooth move.
- Ease off the gas early and slow gradually so drivers behind you have time to react.
- Signal and check your mirrors and blind spot before changing lanes. If the lane next to you is full, don’t force it. Slowing to at least 5 mph under the limit is a legal option.
- On two-lane roads, slow down and stay in your lane. Never cross a double yellow line or drift toward oncoming traffic to give the shoulder extra room.
- Watch for people, not just vehicles. Doors can swing open, and drivers, passengers, and workers may step out unexpectedly.
- Put the phone away. Distraction is how “I didn’t see them” turns into a crash.
- Don’t speed back up too soon. Wait until you’re well past the scene.
If you’re the one stopped, turn on your hazards and pull as far off the road as you safely can.
What It Costs If You Don’t
A Move Over violation is a Class B traffic violation in Oregon. The presumptive fine for a Class B violation is $265 (ORS 153.019). If the officer notes on the citation that the violation happened in a highway work zone, a posted school zone, or a designated safety corridor, the presumptive fine rises to $525 (ORS 153.020). Courts can also add surcharges, and a violation on your record can affect what you pay for insurance.
Sharpen Your Skills With DDI
Laws like this are easy to forget until you need them. DDI’s online Oregon courses cover Oregon traffic laws, defensive driving techniques, and hazard recognition, and you can take them at your own pace.
- Got a ticket? The Oregon Traffic Level 1 Course is a 4-hour online course used for ticket diversion. Find your Oregon court to confirm it’s accepted for your citation and to enroll through the right page.
- 55 or older? The Oregon Mature Driver Accident Prevention Course can help you qualify for an auto insurance reduction while refreshing your defensive driving skills.
- Cited for using a phone while driving? The Oregon Distracted Driving Avoidance Course is built for drivers referred under ORS 811.507.
See every option on our Oregon courses page. And the next time you see flashing lights on the shoulder, give them a lane or slow down. It’s the law, and it helps everyone get home.
Sources
- AAA Oregon/Idaho, “National Slow Down Move Over Day is This Saturday”: https://info.oregon.aaa.com/national-slow-down-move-over-day-is-this-saturday-2/
- ORS 811.147, Failure to maintain safe distance from motor vehicle: https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ORS_811.147 (official text: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors811.html)
- ORS 153.019, Presumptive fines: https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_153.019
- ORS 153.020, Presumptive fines in highway work zones, school zones, and safety corridors: https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_153.020
- Oregon Department of Transportation, Police Traffic Enforcement (Move Over or Slow Down): https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Safety/Pages/Enforcement.aspx
