The Power of Slow

Embracing time so you have more of it

by Christine Louise Hohlbaum

Slow Down America...and Move Over

The next time you blow past a roadside vehicle, slow down and think.

Published on February 26, 2010 by Christine Louise Hohlbaum in The Power of Slow

You know the feeling. You're in a rush, pushing beyond the speed limit to make that meeting when you see a broken down vehicle on the side of the road.

"They've already got help," you rationalize as you blow past them and Triple A, too.

Seventy-one percent of all Americans haven't heard of the Move Over Law, which requires you either move over to the neighboring lane or slow down to below 20 mph below the posted speed limit while passing an emergency roadside vehicle with flashing lights.

Why this new law, effective in forty-seven states as of January 1, 2010?

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 154 police officers have been struck and killed by motor vehicles while roadside since 1999 with thousands more injured every year. Our need for safety supersedes our need for speed.

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Several people I know have gotten caught off guard about this new law. They had no idea they were supposed to slow down or move over. Although it is common sense to be mindful of roadside vehicles, we often are so preoccupied with our own thoughts to slow down for even a moment.

This law is a great example of the power of slow in legislative form. We can save lives by taking a moment to be aware of our surroundings, being mindful of the impact of our actions on our own lives and on those of others, and recognizing we're in this together. Is it really necessary to drive that fast anyway?

So the next time you see those flashing lights, move it over and slow it down. You could save a life. What better way to do that than in slow style?