Local travelers heading south on Interstate 55 may notice somenew signage, and Mississippi Highway Patrol officials say it’s toremind motorists to keep their eyes out for emergency andmaintenance workers as they do their jobs.

MHP Troop M Public Affairs Officer Sgt. Rusty Boyd said thesigns are just to enforce the “Move Over” law that is already inplace. MHP and the Mississippi Department of Transportationunveiled the new signs Thursday, and they are in the process ofputting up 17 on major thoroughfares throughout the state.

“It’s hard enough working on the side of the road withoutworrying about traffic,” MHP Colonel Michael Berthay said. “I hopethese signs remind motorists to watch out for those trying toprotect them on our roads.”

The law calls for motorists to use caution and yield to lawenforcement, emergency personnel and road crews and if possible tomove over and put a full lane of traffic between their car andthose who are working on the road.

“This is partially to inform the public that it is a law, and alot of other states have it,” Boyd said. “At anytime we’re outthere on the side of the road in traffic, whether it’s lawenforcement or other emergency workers, they’re trying to protectpeople, and they’re focused on what they’re doing. It’s importantto watch out for that.”

In an era of technical gadgetry, people are paying less and lessattention to the road, Boyd said, and that makes it a more unsafeenvironment for the emergency and maintenance workers.

“We were just having too many incidents nationwide,” he said.”When you look at YouTube, there are all kinds of videos ofofficers being hit on traffic stops or wrecks because of peoplerefusing to move to the other lane or slowing down in case theyhave to stop.”

And, Boyd said, troopers will not accept the excuse, “But Ididn’t know.” In addition, it should be a matter of courtesy, hesaid.

“We get a lot of excuses when we try to enforce it, and beingunaware is no excuse,” he said. “We appreciate your moving overanytime, not just when there are emergency vehicles, but any personstopped on side of road. If you have a flat, you appreciate peoplemoving away while you’re trying to change your tire because itmakes you nervous. Sometimes the side of the road is not verywide.”

Another threat is to the driver, because if a motorist is notaware of a situation, he could have to deal not only with the$250-$1,000 fine for not moving over, but also with the idea thathe injured or killed someone on the interstate.

“Regardless of if it’s blue lights, red lights, amber lights, oremergency flashers, move away as far as you can because you don’tknow what the situation is,” he said. “Help us do our job bystaying away from us while we’re out there working, we may betending to one of your family members and you don’t even knowit.”