Move Over law, school buses and emergency vehicles

Key points

1. The Move Over law requires you to move over to the next lane if safely possible.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “In Georgia, this law requires motorists to: • Move over to the next lane if safely possible.”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 18

2. The law applies to any emergency, sanitation or utility service vehicle parked on the shoulder.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “This law applies to any emergency, sanitation, or utility service vehicle parked on the shoulder of the roadway.”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 18

3. A first Move Over violation can bring a fine of up to $500.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “Violations can result in a fine of no more than $500 for the first offense.”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 18

4. Do not follow a fire truck or emergency vehicle responding to an alarm closer than 200 feet.

   Source: Handbook p. 24

   “must not follow any fire fighting apparatus traveling in response to a fire alarm, or other emergency vehicles, closer than 200 feet”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 24

5. Do not park within 500 feet of fire apparatus stopped at a fire alarm.

   Source: Handbook p. 24

   “or park any vehicle within 500 feet of any fire apparatus stopped in answer to a fire alarm”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 24

6. When a school bus is getting ready to stop to load or unload children, the bus driver turns on flashing yellow lights.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “When a school bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children, the driver of the bus will activate flashing yellow lights.”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 18

7. After stopping for a school bus, stay stopped until it moves or turns off its signals and all passengers are clear.

   Source: Handbook p. 44

   “After stopping,you must remain stopped until the bus resumes motion or deactivates its warning signals AND all loading or unloading passengers have cleared the roadway.”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 44

8. In most cases, all drivers must stop when approaching or meeting a stopped school bus with flashing lights that is loading or unloading.

   Source: Handbook p. 44

   “In most cases, all drivers are required to stop when approaching or meeting a stopped school bus that has its lights flashing and is loading or unloading passengers.”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 44

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Georgia practice test

1. 1. What fine can a first violation of Georgia's Move Over law bring?

   1. A fine of no more than $500
   2. No fine, only points
   3. A fine of $50
   4. A fine of $5,000
   Show answer

   A fine of no more than $500. Georgia's Move Over law protects law enforcement officers and other workers stopped on the roadside, and a violation can result in a fine of no more than $500 for a first offense. The manual notes that thirty percent of all crashes occur as the result of another crash, which is why moving over matters. Safely change lanes away from the stopped vehicle, or slow well below the limit and be ready to stop if you cannot move over.

2. 2. If a Georgia roadside emergency, sanitation, or utility vehicle is stopped on the shoulder, what must a motorist do when safe?

   1. Maintain speed in the adjacent lane
   2. Stop directly behind the service vehicle
   3. Move to the next lane, or slow below the speed limit and be prepared to stop
   4. Pass on the shoulder without reducing speed
   Show answer

   Move to the next lane, or slow below the speed limit and be prepared to stop. Georgia's Move Over Law requires a lane change into the next lane when safely possible. If moving over cannot be done safely, the driver must slow below the speed limit and be prepared to stop. Maintaining speed ignores the protective purpose of the law, and stopping behind or passing on the shoulder creates a new hazard. The rule covers emergency, sanitation, and utility service vehicles on the shoulder. Look ahead for the stopped vehicle, then choose the safe lane or reduced-speed response.

3. 3. After yielding to an emergency vehicle, how closely may a driver follow it?

   1. Within 20 feet so the route remains clear
   2. Not closer than 200 feet
   3. Within one car length at intersections
   4. At any distance if the emergency lights remain visible
   Show answer

   Not closer than 200 feet. Georgia prohibits following an emergency vehicle closer than 200 feet when it is responding with emergency equipment. Leaving that separation gives responders room to brake, maneuver, and deal with changing traffic. Staying within 20 feet or one car length is far too close, and visible lights do not create an exception. Once the vehicle passes, let it open a substantial gap before resuming ordinary travel behind it.

Source: the Georgia Drivers Manual, Section 5: Traffic Laws. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.