Tens of thousands of law enforcement officers will be traveling to Washington DC to participate in events that honor those who have given their lives to protect citizens and communities around the world. This will include representatives from Wisconsin. One way to help these officers is to give them a safety zone while they do their job on Wisconsin roads.
Motor vehicle crashes kill more police officers in the workplace than any other cause. Spring and summer are also construction time in Oshkosh, Neenah and all the Fox Cities. According to the Center for Construction Research and Training, 532 construction workers were killed at road construction sites between 2011 and 2016. To help protect road workers and police officers, Wisconsin passed a “Move Over” Law. In short, if you can move over safely, then you must. If you cannot move over safely, then you must slow your speed. The Wisconsin DOT has offered guidance here:
https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/safety/education/move-over/default.aspx
At Hammett, Bellin & Oswald, LLC we have represented construction workers, police officers, and their families as a result of motor vehicle crashes while they were simply doing their jobs. Unfortunately, these car crashes at highway speeds often result in severe and permanent personal injuries if not wrongful death. As the weather gets better, and people start to travel more, watch out for the workers and remember to “move over.”
Some agencies have started a “Drive Like You Work Here” program to remind people about road safety. It is a good message for us all to remember on the roads this spring and summer.