Cutline: From left, Waste Management District Manager John Reed, Florida Highway Patrol Corporal John Baker and Trooper Anthony Lee with Waste Management driver Tyrone Sims.
Pompano Beach, fl — July 28, 2014 — Sanitation and utility workers are now protected alongside police officers, firefighters, and paramedics by new legislation that expands the “Move Over” law.
Governor Rick Scott recently signed House Bill 7005 into law, which includes a section that adds sanitation and utility vehicles to the existing “Move Over Act” which went into effect July 1st.
“Our drivers – and all of our employees – rank among the safest in the industry because safety is one of our core values,” said Tim Hawkins, Florida Area Vice President for Waste Management. “We applaud the Florida legislature and the Governor for taking action that will help protect our employees while doing their jobs.”
Waste Management has 1,200 vehicles on the road in Florida and, according to the National Waste and Recycling Association, being struck by motorists is a leading cause of death for waste and recycling collection employees nationwide.
Under the Move Over Act, on a two-lane roadway, drivers are required to slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit. If the speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less, drivers must slow down to five miles per hour.
If you are driving on an interstate or roadway with multiple lanes of travel in the same direction, and you approach an emergency, law enforcement, utility or sanitation vehicle parked along the roadway, you must vacate the lane closest to that vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. If you are not able to safely move over, you must slow down to a speed of 20 MPH below the posted speed limit unless directed otherwise by a law enforcement officer.
Violating the move over law can result in a fine and points on the driver’s license.
ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste Management, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. It is the largest residential recycler and also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. The company’s customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more information about Waste Management visit www.wm.com or www.thinkgreen.com.