In Iowa if you see an emergency vehicle coming up fast in your rear view mirror you have to pull over to the side of the road and let it pass.
And it's same when you drive by an accident scene.
That hasn't changed but the law has gotten an update.
July first is kind of like a second new year for Iowa and Illinois.
Lots of new laws take effect, including one raising the penalties for drivers violating Iowa's move over law.
A law designed to make road sides safer.
"We don't get to pick out where a crash happens so sometimes we're not in the best spot," says Iowa State Patrol Trooper Dan Loussaert.
That's why it's the law in Iowa to move over and slow down while passing any accident scene. He says taking that action serves two purposes. Protecting people and, "The more room that we have, the sooner that we we're able to finish up our job there, and get the roadway back to normal as soon as possible."
But state lawmakers felt the penalties weren't tough enough. So starting July 1st, anyone causing an accident because they didn't move over will face license suspension and fines. A 90 day suspension and 500 dollar fine for damaging property. A one year suspension and one thousand dollar fine for killing someone.
"Being five or ten minutes late is better than losing your license for a year and a thousand dollar fine," says Davenport's Niikaaye Walker says driving is more dangerous now than ever. And strengthening the law is a good step.
"Now a lot of civilians are in a rush with traffic with the heat, and in the winter with the cold, I think we all have to slow down and understand that the police and firefighters they all have a job to do."
And Trooper Loussaert says it's a common sense law.
"If you see someone stopped on the side of the roadway and they're on the shoulder common courtesy is slow down, something could happen."
The State Patrol says they'll enforce these new penalties without any sort of grace period.
Since the original law is already three years old.
And drivers have already had a chance to get accustomed to it.
The move over law requires drivers to move over for any emergency vehicle, tow truck or maintenance truck.
And it applies to drivers on every type of road in Iowa.
