There are more drivers on Maryland highways during Thanksgiving weekend than any other time of the year.
The Maryland Department of Transportation wants to remind everybody to be safe around those who work on our highways: police, firemen and tow truck drivers.
State Police have written more than 18,000 tickets to drivers that did not move over a lane to give an officer or an emergency worker room on the side of the highway.
The law went into effect in 2010. It requires drivers to move over a lane, if possible, when police or firemen are working on the side of the road. In 2014, lawmakers expanded the law to add tow trucks.
"It's a very dangerous job. Distracted driving is a huge problem in our state. We are out aggressively enforcing those laws every day," said Daniel Pickett with the Maryland State Police.
The State Highway Administration did a demonstration to show the challenges police, fire and tow truck drivers face doing their jobs, all while cars are going 65 MPH just feet from them.
"Simply slow down and if available move over to the next lane."
