June 5, 2021

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–A campaign for the New Jersey, Slow Down, Move Over, law was held yesterday at the New Jersey Turnpike, Richard Stockton Service Area in Hamilton Township, just south of Exit 7A.

Officials want to remind you that when you see a stopped vehicle to “Slow Down, Move Over” it’s the law.

Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, NJDOT Commissioner said, ” At NJDOT we have a motto Everyone Goes Home Every Night, one way to ensure this is by making people aware of the Slow Down, Move Over law. We are here today to launch a campaign of public awareness, and drive home this lifesaving message. The campaign was designed to coincide with the busy summer driving season.”

The goal of this campaign is to reinforce the message so it becomes second nature to drivers, when you see a stopped vehicle, with emergency lights activated, on the side of the road, please move over, and if you cannot and it is not safe to move over, than please slow down.”

As part of this campaign Slow Down Move Over bumper stickers will be placed on NJ DOT and participating agencies vehicles across the state. The message will also be displayed on posters at 72 Quick Check stores and 67 gas stations in NJ. The NJ Department of Transportation will also be displaying the message on variable message signs and social media to spread awareness.

Colonel Patrick Callahan, New Jersey State Police recalled how when he was working the NJ Turnpike and when he was on the road at a traffic stop. One time he was issuing a summons and heard a car coming down the road and hitting the rumble strips, the driver woke up at the last second, swerved and the car took off mirror of his troop car. He says quite possibly if we had the Slow Down, Move Over Law back then it may have helped.

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Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, NJDOT Commissioner, Colonel Patrick Callahan, New Jersey State Police, Mrs. Donna Setaro, Mother of fallen NJSP Marc Castellano and Eric Heitmann, Director, Division of Highway Traffic Safety, announce the statewide SLOW DOWN MOVE OVER bumper sticker awareness campaign while at the Richard Stockton Service Area in Hamilton, N.J. on Friday, June 4, 2021. This inter-agency press conference is a joint effort to bring awareness to the Move Over Law, and promote the NJ Traffic Incident Management (NJ TIM) bumper sticker campaign.

Photos provided by NJ State Police Tim Larsen

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Photos provided by: NJ Department of Transportation

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Photos provided by: NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety

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Fast-forward YouTube video to 12:30 for the start of the program.

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MidJersey.News articles involving Slow Down, Move Over type incidents:

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UPDATE: NJSP Col. Callahan And Govenor Phil Murphy Provide Update On Crash; Trooper Will Be OK After Being Thrown 30 Feet June 22, 2020

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BREAKING: NJ State Police Vehicle Destroyed By Dump Truck On NJ Turnpike — June 22, 2020

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BREAKING: NJ State Police Vehicle Struck On NJ Turnpike Sending 1 To Hospital June 7, 2020

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SLOW DOWN MOVE OVER: NJTP Car Fire And Rubberneck 3 Car Accident June 4, 2020

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Trenton Man Arrested For Aggravated Assault After Striking Police Officer With Vehicle And Fleeing Scene

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NJSP Troop “C” Hamilton, 10th Anniversary Of When Trooper Was Struck By Passing Motorist On I-195

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Marc K. Castellano was born on July 15, 1980 in Lakewood, New Jersey and lived in Jackson until he moved to Howell, New Jersey in 2004. He was a graduate of Jackson Memorial High School in 1998 and received a Jackson PBA scholarship that year. He received his associate’s degree from Ocean County College in 2000, a Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers University in 2003 and a Master’s degree at Farleigh Dickinson University in 2010. Marc was a two-year starter at middle linebacker from 1996-1997 and a team captain during his senior year for the Jackson Memorial High School football team.

Trooper Castellano enlisted in the New Jersey State Police on September 24, 2004, as a member of the 136th Class and was assigned to the Troop “C” Tactical Patrol Unit #1 at the time of his death. His service with the New Jersey State Police was characterized by loyalty, fearless performance of his duty and faithful and honorable devotion to the principles of the New Jersey State Police.

Trooper Castellano died as a result of injuries received while in the performance of duty.

At approximately 10:00 am on Sunday, June 6, 2010, Trooper Castellano was walking along the shoulder of Interstate 195 West near the Exit 31 ramp in Howell Township. He was searching for an alleged armed occupant of an abandoned vehicle that was connected to an ongoing investigation when he was struck by a passing motorist. He was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, New Jersey, where he died several hours later from his injuries.

Trooper Castallano served 5 years and 8 months with the New Jersey State Police.

He is survived by his parents, a brother, his wife and two children. Trooper Castellano was 29 years old.

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New Jersey Statute 39:4-92.2

Procedure for motorist approaching certain stationary vehicle.

1. a. The operator of a motor vehicle approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle as defined in R.S.39:1-1 that is displaying a flashing, blinking or alternating red or blue light or, any configuration of lights containing one of these colors, shall approach the authorized emergency vehicle with due caution and shall, absent any other direction by a law enforcement officer, proceed as follows:

(1) Make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the authorized emergency vehicle if possible in the existing safety and traffic conditions; or

(2) If a lane change pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection a. of this section would be impossible, prohibited by law or unsafe, reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed for the existing road and traffic conditions, which speed shall be less than the posted speed limit, and be prepared to stop.

b. The operator of a motor vehicle approaching a stationary tow truck as defined in section 1 of P.L.1999, c.396 (C.39:3-84.6) that is displaying a flashing amber light, a stationary highway maintenance or emergency service vehicle that is operated by the State, an authority or a county or municipality and displaying flashing yellow, amber, or red lights, or a stationary sanitation vehicle displaying a flashing amber warning light pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2011, c.3 (C.39:3-54.27) shall approach the vehicle with due caution and shall, absent any other direction by a law enforcement officer, proceed as follows:

(1) Make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the tow truck, highway maintenance or emergency service vehicle, or sanitation vehicle if possible in the existing safety and traffic conditions; or

(2) If a lane change under paragraph (1) of subsection b. of this section would be impossible, prohibited by law or unsafe, reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed for the existing road and traffic conditions, which speed shall be less than the posted speed limit, and be prepared to stop.

c. A violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500.

L. 2017, c.43, s.1.

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