Bill bolsters safety for Ohio maintenance vehicles

COLUMBUS (AP) — The Ohio House has passed a bill that would require motorists to change lanes if possible and slow down when passing stopped highway maintenance vehicles.

The aim of lawmakers is to give more room to maintenance vehicle drivers and highway workers to make them safer. The bill was passed by the House Tuesday and moves to the Senate.

The bill would require that motorists attempt to change lanes to avoid being in the lane adjacent to the stopped maintenance vehicle. If that’s not possible, then motorists need to slow down and proceed with caution.

Highway maintenance vehicles include snow plows, traffic lane stripers, road sweepers, mowing machines, cement trucks and others.

Ohio law currently requires similar action when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle.