TRENTON — Drivers could be fined up to $500 for not yielding to emergency vehicles on the side of the road.
Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed a bill on Tuesday, Jan. 27 requiring drivers approaching police cars, ambulances or any other vehicles with red and blue lights to move over to a lane not immediately adjacent to the emergency vehicle.
If the road is too narrow to do that, then drivers have to slow to a safe speed less than the posted speed limit and be prepared to stop.
The New Jersey Bar Association opposes the legislation because it may cause accidents, according to a position statement posted on its Web site.
Its statement, “The natural human tendency when police lights are observed is to slightly reduce speed, assess the level of risk, and begin rubbernecking or to look at what is happening.”
The Bar Association believes requiring a dramatic speed reduction could cause accidents and is unaware of any increase in accidents or injuries caused by individuals speeding by police officers engaged in a traffic stop.
The statement also concludes even if such evidence were present, requiring traffic to slow down to 20 miles per hour will not increase traffic safety.
Violators face fines between $100 and $500.
The Senate passed the legislation in June and the Assembly approved it in December
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