ORLANDO, Fla. — Did you know that January is “Move Over Month” in Florida?
It’s a reminder that state law requires you to always safely move over for any stopped vehicle that’s on the side of the road, or do 20 miles per hour under the posted speed limit.
On January 26, 2012, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper David Rodriguez’s life was forever changed.
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While finishing up a traffic stop on the shoulder of SR-528 near McCoy Road, Trooper Rodriguez was slammed into by a driver who failed to move over.
“I do remember going into a very, very deep sleep … just having this sense of internal peace,” Rodriguez said.
“Do you think that was God calling you home?” Channel 9 anchor Alexa Lorenzo asked.
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“Absolutely. Without a doubt,” Rodriguez replied.
The crash left Rodriguez badly hurt, with several broken bones, including a broken arm and leg. He needed several surgeries and had to relearn how to walk. It took him more than two years to get back to work.
From his hospital bed 13 years ago, he made a plea: “Please move over when you see one of us out there.”
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His crash and recovery highlighted the importance of Florida’s Move Over law. Initially, the law required drivers to move over or slow down when they saw an emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the road.
In 2024, the law was expanded to cover all stopped vehicles on the shoulder, not just emergency vehicles.
Channel 9 reviewed data from the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, showing law enforcement officers issued 16,959 move over citations statewide last year. That’s an increase of roughly 3,000 from the year before.
Trooper Rodriguez said he remains dedicated to reminding drivers to move over, knowing the consequences.
“13 years later, all the metal has basically arthritis set in, so it’s constant pain, 24/7,” Rodriguez said.
The scene of his crash is part of his daily commute, and he says it serves as a constant reminder that life is precious and that we all have a remarkable responsibility on the roadway.
“It could have said road designated to Trooper David Rodriguez, but it didn’t. Thank God for that,” he said.
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