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Ohio Bill Would Require Drivers to Move Over for Trash Trucks
The bill is headed for a vote in the Ohio House of Representatives.
1 Min Read
A bill in the Ohio House of Representatives would require drivers to “move over” for trash trucks with their lights flashing, much like the requirement for ambulances and other public safety vehicles. The bill has already been approved by the House Government Accountability and Oversight Committee and the Ohio Senate.
Under the new bill, a driver found in violation of the requirement could face a minor misdemeanor moving violation charge and a fine of up to $300 in addition to court costs.
The hope of the bill is that it prevents deaths and injuries to workers collecting waste and recyclables, a profession that remains one of the most dangerous in the country.
Dayton Daily News has more information:
“This incident occurred on a four-lane road and could have been prevented had the driver simply slowed down and moved over,” Profitt wrote. “This is only one of many tragedies that have occurred in the waste industry.”
A single garbage truck can make 600-900 stops a day, according to the National Waste and Recycling Association. Similar legislation has passed in 16 states including Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New York and West Virginia, according to the organization.move
Refuse and recycling collectors have the fifth highest death rate among civilian occupations in the country, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2016, 31 died — about two-thirds the result of transportation incidents.
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