Last week alone, three Maine State Police vehicle were hit by traffic while parked behind a vehicle on the highways.  4 troopers have been injured during this 1-week period.  Below are two of the three cars hit:

 

 

No troopers have died but it's very dangerous.  In Maine, among other places, the law requires you to move over one lane if a trooper is parked in the breakdown lane and if you can't move over, you need to slow WAY down.  And for good reason, because if you drift a little bit too far over, this happens.

Wow, that sucks!

Thanks for highlighting this issue, because it really is a big issue with people not keeping their distance. My local PD posted on their Facebook about this issue too, luckily we haven't had any serious accidents involving traffic stops. As you can see here:

 

They're parked extremely closed to the traffic. Hopefully this will raise awareness to those who drive, or ride in a car. Slow down when you see the lights, Everyone has the right to a safe workplace. 

State police are now heavily enforcing the law - if a trooper pulls someone over, they have 3 more officers watching traffic and if anyone breaks the "move over" law, they're charged.

I have also seen that in GA. I actually drove past a T-Stop when a vehicle who didnt move over and was going pretty fast past the police got pulled over by the second officer. I wish they could find a way to get this law enforced heavily, No leniency. The word needs to be spread a TON.  I see it to often. 

Damn that really sucks. I love the Maine cars especially the Interceptors. 

That's why we have large, plainly visible from a distance reflective markings here in the UK. These in tandem with the LED lights prevent most events like these.

 

 

I would ask why the US doesn't use much reflective markings on their traffic cars, since they're dealing with road related issues all the time, but the American approach seems to be more of catching speeders in the act with stealth from what I was told. However, is it really worth it? I've heard this sort of thing happen lots of times in the US, and I'm starting to think the cars could have better markings. I mean who could read a small "POLICE" or "STATE TROOPER" sticker on the boot from 100m back? If it's all about stealth, at least make the rear highly-visible, since that's where all the traffic on the highway will be coming at.

 

It's a surprise no one got killed.

Edited January 15, 201412 yr by Double Doppler

What's sad is, everyone here feels sorry for the MSP and their cars, what about when I'm changing some lazy asses tire on the side of the highway & nobody moves over for me when my lights are activated? what if I'm hooking up somebody's broke down car & I get struck & killed? guaranteed no one will care as much because because I'm not a cop, move over law applies to even tow truck drivers.

I hope the driver that hit them gets what they deserve.

 

Society really makes no sense nowadays.

Edited January 15, 201412 yr by Slimory

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Edited June 22, 20241 yr by tobeymaguire

Dont think its as much as not moving over as people hitting the breaks and losing control on the ice. If your going 65MPH (which you should never do on a snowy day) you will start to swerve and trying to regain control at 65MPH when your going every which way is nearly impossible. So the best advice here is to slow down and use the break gently. Even if the vehicle did move over hitting the breaks will still cause you to lose control when your going that fast. (I can tell by the damage that these idiots were going at least 40MPH)

That's why we have large, plainly visible from a distance reflective markings here in the UK. These in tandem with the LED lights prevent most events like these.
 

 
I would ask why the US doesn't use much reflective markings on their traffic cars, since they're dealing with road related issues all the time, but the American approach seems to be more of catching speeders in the act with stealth from what I was told. However, is it really worth it? I've heard this sort of thing happen lots of times in the US, and I'm starting to think the cars could have better markings. I mean who could read a small "POLICE" or "STATE TROOPER" sticker on the boot from 100m back? If it's all about stealth, at least make the rear highly-visible, since that's where all the traffic on the highway will be coming at.
 
It's a surprise no one got killed.

 

If you can't see bright ass LED lights that are visible from over a mile away I highly doubt these "reflectors" will make any difference. 

Edited January 15, 201412 yr by Darkangel

Thing is, people shouldn't a NEED to see a police symbol or huge sticker to realize they should move over or slow down. I don't think anyone would want to go along at 60MPH+ and smash into anything, whether it's a police officer or not. It's nice there are wonderful stickers on your cars, but you really don't need them. People should be able to pay attention themselves and watch what they are doing.

Just simply to back up what DD has said; with the use of these highly visible liveries, these incidents are extremely rare over here. To say that the UK doesn't really need these high vis markings is wrong as it provides extra protection by means of prevention of accidents allowing a safe workplace for the officers, plus they also stand out to the public and criminals alike. It feels as if you are demeaning them by calling them 'wonderful stickers' as it suggests they are simply there for show which is completely untrue. A car that provides a service on the road such as The Highways Agency, the Police, Recovery Vehicles etc. are, to my knowledge, required to have these markings. Just like a High Visibility jacket but for a car.

On topic: it is really is terrible that this would happen while the victim is at work. Let's hope they recover fast!

I agree with DD, it would improve security to have that kind of markings. Still, the flashing leds should be a indicator to slow down. 

Poor Interceptor.

If you can't see bright ass LED lights that are visible from over a mile away I highly doubt these "reflectors" will make any difference.

I have noticed that when it is a bright, sunny day and you are driving with the sun facing you, it is sometimes difficult to see the LED lighting, that's where the liveries take part. Acting as a role of secondary protection

EDIT: Fixed slight grammatical error

Edited January 16, 201412 yr by UrbaneDegree18

Thing is, people shouldn't a NEED to see a police symbol or huge sticker to realize they should move over or slow down. I don't think anyone would want to go along at 60MPH+ and smash into anything, whether it's a police officer or not. It's nice there are wonderful stickers on your cars, but you really don't need them. People should be able to pay attention themselves and watch what they are doing.

"Should" and "Holy crap where did that parked car come from I think I just killed someone oh my god" aren't mutually exclusive. You're correct, people generally don't want to hit someone. That's why it's a good idea to have high-vis markings on the rear. That's why fire departments in the US are starting to do so (as they really don't need stealth). Tow truck drivers can ALSO have high-visibility stripes.

Darkangel: Studies suggest otherwise. First, lights in daytime can be less effective. Second, lights can actually sometimes make accidents MORE likely. They draw attention, and people tend to drive towards where they're looking. It's like moths to flame. OTOH, reflective stripes are a LOT less likely to draw a prolonged gaze. Flashing lights don't provide nearly as good a sense of where a car is, because they keep turning on and off and don't provide a steady visual target; reflectors do. Also, adding stripes certainly won't *hurt* visibility; even with flashing lights, more stuff to increase visibility always helps.

There's a reason reflector stripes are becoming universal on highway maintenance trucks, why anyone whose job entails walking on an interstate must wear high-vis clothing whether or not they want to (only exceptions: firefighters actively fighting a fire and cops engaged in "law enforcement activities", which does not include e.g. directing traffic). Retroreflectors work REALLY well.

I have noticed that there is a bright, sunny day and you are driving with the sun facing you, it is sometimes difficult to see the LED lighting, that's where the liveries take part. Acting as a role of secondary protection

 

If you can't see the LED that is 5 feet above the reflectors then you're not going to see the reflectors on a bright sunny day. Either you never been driving or the sun where you live is brighter then it is over here. 

If you can't see the LED that is 5 feet above the reflectors then you're not going to see the reflectors on a bright sunny day. Either you never been driving or the sun where you live is brighter then it is over here.

Think about it, if you have a light on during the day, do you see it at its brightest? No, because there is other light around it. You will see the light at its brightest when it is dark. Where as liveries designed to reflect light are bright as there is light to reflect during the day.

Edited January 16, 201412 yr by UrbaneDegree18

Darkangel: The Sun can make flashing lights not be very attention-getting (as they are overwhelmed). Contrasting patterns incorporating darkness are way more visible in sunny conditions.

that's really sucks of what just happened. I have went to the Uk for 2 months and there vehicles are very visible.. then they have invisible

 

Edited January 16, 201412 yr by Empire

Darkangel: The Sun can make flashing lights not be very attention-getting (as they are overwhelmed). Contrasting patterns incorporating darkness are way more visible in sunny conditions.

 

 

Think about it, if you have a light on during the day, do you see it at its brightest? No, because there is other light around it. You will see the light at its brightest when it is dark. Where as liveries designed to reflect light are bright as there is light to reflect during the day.

 

I have been any enough ride a longs when we had to assist an officer and we could see there lights half mile away on a bright sunny day. I never been in a situation when I couldn't see a emergency vehicles light. But other then that you should move over no matter what vehicle is on the side of the road. I mean I guess if its a bright enough day that could happen but I really don't see it working much at all. (All the squads around here have them on the back and really can't notice the difference)

Edited January 16, 201412 yr by Darkangel