Car parked on the shoulder of the interstate - do you change lanes? (costs, ticket)

[d4g4m]

Florida state law- If you approach flashing lights on an interstate, move left.

[rbohm]

Originally Posted by Listener2307

Truckers change lanes when we can because of the possibility that someone may step out of the vehicle and into the path of traffic.
In our case there is also the problem of wind blast and the debris that is always stirred up.

So I say, change lanes if it's safe but at least keep the speed down and keep your eye out for trouble. Many times when traffic is light I have just moved over just half a lane to give whoever might be there a little more room.

this is my advice also.

[43north87west]

If safely possible, yes. It depends how far on the shoulder the car is and how wide the shoulder too. If the car is 10' off the roadway, I'm less likely to do it. I ran across a BMW a few days ago pulled over on a HUGE paved shoulder. Like more than a lane wide with flat desert beyond it. The woman driving had pulled over right on the white shoulder line instead of moving far off the road and even into the desert (easily possible). She had the rear door open and was doing something with a kid in a car seat in the back. The door was open *IN* traffic. Who does that?

[WyoNewk]

I clicked on two of the answers -- yes, and case-by-case. Normally I do move over, but if someone is approaching from behind in the passing lane, no. So it's really case-by-case, but since the survey let me keep two choices, I kept 'em.

[wit-nit]

The law in most states say "move over or slow down if you can't move over". It's plain and simple.

[rdflk]

Is this really going to get many answers that are NOT like the ones already posted.
I would imagine MOST people would say -- IF they can move over a bit, they do.

I usually don't actually change lanes and get over, I'll move further away, an sort of go around a little bit. IF I don't move over I certainly start checking out the car as soon as I see it which can be a good distance ahead. If you see the car's abandoned/empty I feel there's less need to move over, if someone's changing a tire then clearly that's another situation, or if people are sitting on the guard rail near a tree line, then that's also not likely a case where I feel the need to get over.

MD has a move over for cops and emergency vehicles, too. Which of course there'd be no need for if people had common sense.

[Billy_J]

I move over or slow down for parked cars, pedestrians, animals, bikes, whatever. The more distance between me and them, the better!

[kokonutty]

Originally Posted by Labonte18

That's what I was thinking of.. Many states now have these "Move Over" laws in play.

Right. So why not do it for Joe Public too?

[HTY483]

If I can see that there is someone trying to change a tire or something then if at all possible, yes. It's just common roadway courtesy. If it just appears to be an empty car sitting there then maybe not.

[Tominftl]

I do what I can to have a buffer between my car and the disabled car. I have had people in the disabled car swing open their door when on the shoulder. I couldn't believe the stupidity.