ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION AND INDEPENDENT
AUTHORITIES COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 4813
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: DECEMBER 12, 2024
The Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities
Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments
Assembly Bill No. 4813.
As amended and reported, this bill amends current law to require
motor vehicle drivers to move over or reduce the speed of the motor
vehicle and be prepared to stop when approaching any stationary
vehicle and to move over for any stationary vehicle regardless of
whether the vehicle is displaying flashing, blinking, or alternating
lights; flashing hazard warning signal lights; or utilizing road flares or
reflective triangles. Under the bill, “vehicle” means every device in,
upon, or by which a person or property is or may be transported upon a
highway, excepting devices moved by human power or used
exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks or low-speed electric
bicycles, low-speed electric scooters, or motorized bicycles.
Under current law, motor vehicle drivers are required to move
over, or reduce the speed of their vehicles, and be prepared to stop
when approaching stationary authorized emergency vehicles, tow
trucks, highway maintenance or emergency service vehicles, and
sanitation vehicles displaying certain lights and for disabled vehicles
flashing hazard warning signal lights or utilizing road flares or
reflective triangles.
This bill also requires the Director of the Division of Highway
Traffic Safety in the Department of Law and Public Safety to include
all stationary vehicles in a public awareness campaign to inform the
general public of the importance of reducing speed and changing lanes
when approaching stationary vehicles, the risks associated with the
failure to do so, and any penalties and fines that are imposed by a
failure to reduce speed or change lanes.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS :
The committee amended the bill to require motor vehicle drivers
approaching any stationary vehicle to either make a lane change into a
lane not adjacent to the vehicle or, if a lane change is not possible,
prohibited by law, or unsafe, to reduce the speed of the motor vehicle 2
and be prepared to stop. The committee also amended the bill to
require public awareness campaign to include certain information
about changing lanes or reducing the speed of a vehicle when
approaching any stationary vehicle. The committee amendments
update the title and synopsis to reflect these changes.