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The Lubbock Police Department has laid out its strategy for preventing wrecks by addressing and enforcing the main traffic violations that lead to accidents.

The release also clarifies important traffic laws that we should all be observing:

(LUBBOCK, TX) – Area law enforcement agencies are joining efforts to continue enforcing safe driving in Lubbock following a year in which the city experienced a high number of traffic fatalities.

Beginning Wednesday, Lubbock Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Lubbock County Sherriff’s Office will partner their enforcement actions to focus on speeding violations and the failure to move over or slow down when a stationary emergency vehicle, tow truck or TxDOT vehicle have lights activated on roadways.

As the partnership between the departments continues throughout the year, the top contributing factors in crashes will also be targeted. The top three contributing factors for crashes in Lubbock for 2017, 2018 and 2019 were speeding, disregarding stop signs or traffic lights, and failing to yield right of way when turning left.

Move Over, Slow Down

If there is a stationary authorized emergency vehicle, a tow truck, or TxDOT vehicle with their lights activated, or a different visual sign, Texas law states that a driver must either:
• Vacate the lane closest to the applicable vehicles stopped on the side of the road (if the road has multiple lanes traveling in the same direction), or
• Slowdown 20 mph below the speed limit. (If the speed limit is below 25 mph, the driver must slow down to 5 mph.)


Let's repeat it once more for the folks in the back: Move over, slow down. And be careful turning left, too.


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