The Arkansas Give-A-Lane Law

PEA RIDGE — Did you know...

• Fifty-three percent of police-officer-related deaths are traffic related?

• More than half of fatal crashes occurred on roads with posted speed limits of 55 mph or more, while only 25 percent of property-damage-only crashes occurred on these roads?

• In 2003, 42,643 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes and another 2.9 million were injured?

Here are some facts you might want to know when you are traveling in Arkansas.

Most states have a law similar to the Arkansas Give-A-Lane Law. Although state laws vary, the intent is the same. The idea is to safeguard the lives of the motoring public, pedestrians, emergency personnel, tow truck or maintenance vehicle operators, law enforcement officers and others who frequently work on or near Arkansas highways.

Arkansas law requires that all motorists on a multi-lane highway passing a stopped emergency vehicle which is displaying flashing lights or emergency equipment shall slow down and move into the farthest lane possible away from emergency vehicles. They shall remain in that lane until they have safely passed all vehicles involved in the stop, crash or incident. If a vehicle is unable to safely move over due to existing traffic, they must safely reduce their speed. It is not a legal defense that a driver believed the officer was safe (in or out of the car) from traffic at the time of the violation.

Emergency vehicles include law enforcement vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances and other related vehicles. This law also includes wreckers or tow trucks that clearly display visible and operable flashing lights.

Arkansas law allows officers who observe a violation of the Give-A-Lane law to obtain information from the vehicle’s license plate and mail a citation to the registered owner. The violator need not be stopped at the time of the violation.

So remember, be courteous and drive safely. Wear those seat belts. Seat belts save lives.

This information was obtained through the National Highway Safety Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) / International Association Of Chiefs Of Police (IACP) Operations Kids National Curriculum And The Traffic Occupant Protection Strategies (TOPS) Curriculum.