By WESLIE STRATTON
Moapa Valley Progress
In an effort to increase public awareness of state laws requiring drivers to move over for emergency vehicles, Nevada Highway Patrol Sgt. Robert Mayer set up specific enforcement of those laws on Interstate 15 on the Mormon Mesa between Mile Post 96 and 110 on Wednesday last week.
Mayer, along with two other NHP officers, initially pulled an individual over for a traffic violation. The other two then watched for those who did not merge into the other lane to allow room around the stopped civilian and NHP officer, pulling over those who did not. Then the three officers “leapfrogged” for the several mile stretch to stop those who disregarded the law and safety of the officers.
“It’s common courtesy to move over,” Mayer said. “The law states to move over and slow down. If you can’t move over then slow down.”
He said that slowing from 75 miles per hour down to 70 is not acceptable. Those who are unable to move over need to slow down enough that if an officer were forced to step into the road or were to be shoved by someone onto the roadside, those driving in that lane would be able to stop prior to hitting him, Mayer said.
The enforcement operation came about due to a recent increase in roadside accidents, Mayer said. Since Jan. 1 this year there have been 10 accidents involving a highway patrol vehicle being rear-ended. Four of these have resulting in injury. Mayer said that he himself has recently felt a vehicles side mirror brush his back while working on the roadside.
While it is the law for motorists to move over for emergency vehicles, Mayer said that it is also common courtesy to move over for any vehicle parked on the side of the road, regardless of the reason.
Of the 55 traffic stops made during the enforcement last week, the majority of those who were legitimately unaware of the law were foreigners passing through, Mayer said. He said that residents of Nevada, Utah, Colorado and California all have the same law and are expected to do their part.
While Mayer said he understands coming around a curve in the road and being surprised by an emergency vehicle on the side of the road. But the stretch of highway chosen for this operation was specifically chosen because it is smooth and flat for miles, allowing for drivers to have a clear visual of their approach to flashing lights on the side of the road and giving them ample opportunity to merge into the outside lane.
“This is my office,” Mayer said of the highway. “This is what I have to work with everyday.”
He said that he and other officers are trying to make it safer for others and that he is more afraid of getting hit by a car than being shot during a traffic stop.
“We would rather be out here all day and not write a ticket,” Mayer said, adding that he would prefer doing his job by helping motorists, assisting those with health issues and changing tires.
1 thought on “NHP Performs Targeted Enforcement On I-15”
I always move into the other lane for emergency (and all other) vehicles, when it is safe to do so. If not, I do slow down, depending on if I have someone behind me and how close to me they are.
However this statement:
“We would rather be out here all day and not write a ticket,” Mayer said, adding that he would prefer doing his job by helping motorists, assisting those with health issues and changing tires.
Is a huge load.
When a friend (who was at work) called dispatch because her husband and elderly grandmother (with multiple health issues) were stuck on the 15 around MM 107, she was told NHP was not required to do a motorist assist beyond the Carp exit, therefore they would have to find some other way to get help.
In my own experience, I’ve had NHP pass me right by, after my vehicle broke down on my way home from work. Once in the middle of the night, obviously pregnant, in my uniform, walking down the side of the interstate, because no one was home to know I would be late. This was before cell phones. Eventually, a trucker pulled over, and I accepted the ride. As terrified as I was, I had no other choice. I’d already been stuck for over an hour, and walking for 30ish minutes. NHP had passed me less than 1,000 feet from my car.
I asked to be taken to Glendale, and called friends and they picked me up.
The following afternoon, my brother and I went up to look at the car and fix or tow it back if needed. Of course, NHP had placed their tow sticker on it. The time on it was about an hour after I finally got home, 3:30am.