TULSA— A new state law going into effect at the start of November that requires drivers to treat waste collection trucks the same as emergency vehicles when it comes to passing.
The law was signed by Gov. Mary Fallin in April of this year and is called the “Slow Down to Get Around.” It will apply to garbage and recycling trucks as well.
Stuck behind a garbage truck on your way to work? New Oklahoma law says you must Slow Down to Get Around, just like emergency vehicles pic.twitter.com/dqiXDBLBjr
— Brian Miller KJRH (@Brian_Miller_TV) October 28, 2016
The law requires drivers to either move a full lane over or slow down when passing a waste vehicle on the side of the road.
Garbage trucks are being added to the list of vehicles already protected by the law— police, ambulances, ODOT maintenance trucks and tow trucks.
Soon drivers will have to treat garbage trucks just like first responders when it comes to passing them on the roads.
Supporters of the law say trash collectors have a dangerous job and they have close calls with speeding drivers all the time.
Several trash collectors in Tulsa and the surrounding areas are injured every year after being hit by a car.
“In the last few years we've had a few incidents of some very close calls where some injuries did occur,” said Paul Ross.
Ross is the vice president for American Waste control, a company serving Jenks and other communities around Green Country.
“Treat it as you would a service vehicle that's working alongside of the road and slow down, signal to switch lanes into the other lane and slow down as you're getting around them,” Ross said.
Drivers caught passing a garbage truck without slowing down and using an open lane could face a $2,000 fine and up to 6 months in jail.
The state law goes into effect November 1st and applies to all roads—including neighborhood side streets.
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