THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE'S MOVE OVER TASK FORCE IS MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO FURTHER PROTECT OFFICERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS.

THE TASK FORCE WAS FORMED AFTER A RASH OF MOVE OVER LAW VIOLATIONS LEFT TWO TROOPERS DEAD IN 2019. FOUR SQUAD CARS HAVE ALREADY BEEN STRUCK THIS YEAR, INJURING THREE TROOPERS. STATE POLICE SERGEANT JOEY WATSON SAYS THE GROUP IS PROPOSING SEVERAL CHANGES. ONE IS SIMPLE...REQUIRING DRIVERS TO NOT ONLY CHANGE LANES WHEN THEY SEE FLASHING LIGHTS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT TO SLOW DOWN AS WELL.

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE STIFFER PENALTIES FOR DISTRACTED DRIVERS VIOLATING THE MOVE OVER LAW, MAKING THE LAW A NATIONAL SAFETY PRIORITY AND BETTER DATA COLLECTION TO TRACK HOW OFTEN THIS OCCURS. 

THE TASK FORCE WAS FORMED AFTER A SERIES OF 27 MOVE OVER VIOLATIONS IN 2019 LEFT TWO TROOPERS DEAD. WATSON SAYS FOUR CRASHES WITH STATE POLICE SQUAD CARS HAVE ALREADY OCCURED THIS YEAR, INJURING THREE TROOPERS.