The Legislature has amended the “Move Over Law” to include Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) vehicles. Governor Brian Sandoval today signed Assembly Bill 17 into law to include department vehicles performing construction, maintenance or road repair. NDOT has more than 600 vehicles and 2,000 pieces of heavy equipment such as snow plows. The law goes into effect July 1, requiring drivers to slow down, proceed with caution, be prepared to stop and move over when approaching authorized NDOT vehicles displaying flashing warning lights. Drivers found guilty of violating the law can be charged with a misdemeanor.
Tragically, twenty-four department workers have been killed while performing maintenance work on state roads since 1948, including Ron Raiche Jr. who was struck and killed two years ago on I-80 near Battle Mountain. NDOT has approximately 850 roadway maintenance and 350 construction administration professionals responsible for maintenance and construction improvements on more than 5,400 miles of state roadway and 1,100 bridges. Department professionals perform up to 100 different roadway maintenance tasks, from resurfacing state roads to removing snow.
