To avert injuries and save lives, PennDOT instituted the Steer Clear law that requires drivers to give space or lessen their speed when they are in the presence of any emergency scene, a traffic stop or with a disabled vehicle. Simple as it may seem, it will only be effective if motorists follow the law and use their common sense. A complete copy of the brochure is available in PennDOT website.

Vehicle Code Law Number 3327 states the duty of drivers while passing areas classified under emergency response. In general, the driver near an emergency response area must wait for the direction given by the assigned emergency responder. He is not allowed to pass any lane right next to the wreck; if possible, or if there is no other route, he will do so slowly in a much reduced speed. The motorist who disregards the following law is committing a summary offense and the fine is about the sum of $250.

The department also suspends driving privileges for a period of 90 days. If the violation causes serious injuries to another person, the license must be surrendered to the authorities.

Markings must be done clearly in an emergency response area using roadside flares, caution signage or other types of devices utilized as emergency control which law enforcement official have at their immediate disposal. Any visual signals must be used on vehicles that meet the requirements of the law. It follows that these markings must be placed in areas where service responders for the emergency are guiding persons on or near the roads or a police doing a traffic stop or engaging in the systematic checking-up of vehicles.

An emergency service responder is identified as any individual given the authority to act in this emergency situation. That person in authority is usually the police or traffic officer in the area or any or some or all of the following: ambulance staff and/or personnel; coroner and/or deputy; emergency medical service personnel; fire marshal and/or firefighter and/or fire police; hazardous team response member; highway maintenance and/or construction personnel; medical examiner and/or deputy; rescue personnel; sheriff and/or deputy; rescue personnel; and towing and recovery personnel.

The term serious injury is any type of injury befalling an individual that results to death, serious disability & impairment of bodily functions and even a lasting & serious disfigurement.

Vehicle Code Law Number 4302 deals with the time requiring lighted lamps. The driver of a vehicle in the highway must display lighted head lamps and illuminating devices depending upon the type of vehicle when it is moving between sunset and sunrise. Or in times, when the operator cannot clearly view a person or vehicle in the highway from a 1000-foot distance due to poor light or unfavorable weather, the vehicle lights must be open. Under this law is the new requirement that every time the windshield is on, the light is also on.

It follows that when the windshield wipers of the vehicle are continually being used because of bad weather in conditions as fogs, mist, rain, sleet, snow or wind, the signal lights must be open all the time. Signal lights include stop lights, turn lights or any light signaling devices. However, motorcycles have their own prescriptions.

Vehicle Code Law Number 3720 is legislated primarily for the risky road conditions during the winter months. It mandates that all the snow and ice accumulated in one’s vehicle must be clear as often as possible as it obstructs view of the road followed by a road mishap. Snow and ice that are dislodged from one’s vehicle fall on the road or other vehicles that lead to car crashes and pedestrian injury or even death. If this is the case, the driver has to pay the amount not less than $200 but not more than $1,000 for every infringement.

If you have received a traffic ticket, please contact an experienced traffic ticket lawyer to know about rules of the road. Protect right to drive legally.

Source: Portal State Pa
(https://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/psp/4451/hide_-_rules_of_the_road/459737)