A 2004-06 study revealed 238,337 preventable hospital deaths in Medicare patients alone resulting from patient safety errors and costing the Medicare program $8.8 billion dollars.
Source: www.healthgrades.com

PULL TO THE LEFT, PULL TO THE RIGHT!

Submitted by Chip Sexton on Tue, 2012-01-03 14:01

In driving on interstates recently, I saw many cars that failed to pull over like they were supposed
to do.  I hope that reminding others about two laws will prevent a traffic accident. 

Impeding the Inside Lane of Traffic is Unlawful:  Pull to the Right Lane

I frequently see vehicles that travel in the left or inside lane of traffic on multilane highways at five miles per hour or more below the speed limit.  Naturally, traffic behind the slow moving vehicle must slow down.

Arkansas has a traffic law [Ark. Code Ann. § 27-51-301(b)] that prohibits driving in the left lane of a multilane highway when it impedes the flow of other traffic.  Some legal experts suggest this law even prohibits driving the speed limit in the inside lane if traffic is being impeded.   

Drivers are Required to Pull Over for Stopped Emergency Vehicles:
Pull to the Left Lane

We have another statute [Ark. Code Ann. § 27-51-310] that some people seem to not even know or care about.  This statute requires drivers to pull into the farthest lane away from a stopped emergency response vehicle at a traffic accident or traffic stop.  An emergency response vehicle is a vehicle with a rotating blue, red, or amber light.  Police vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances, and wreckers are all emergency response vehicles if their emergency lights are turned on at a wreck or traffic stop. 

If pulling into another lane is unsafe or impossible, the passing driver must slow down, maintain a reduced safe speed, and proceed with caution past the traffic stop or traffic accident.   Because most drivers pull to the right during a traffic stop or following a traffic accident, this law will usually require drivers to pull to the left, if safe to do so.

Failing to Pull to Another Lane Can Be Costly

Our State wants to protect policemen, firemen, paramedics, and wrecker operators.  Therefore, the law requiring drivers to pull over for an emergency response vehicle imposes hefty fines and even potential jail time for violations.  Violators face a fine of up to $500.00, up to 90 days in jail, court ordered community service of up to seven days, and a driver’s license suspension of up to six months.  Failing to pull over for an emergency response vehicle puts public servants in jeopardy.  It can also be very costly.
 

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