Illinois State Police Reported Move-Over Crashes

State officials issued a warning following a series of recent collisions involving stationary police vehicles.

Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Law Enforcement

Illinois State Police Reported Move-Over Crashes

Live Poll

Do you consistently slow down and move over for stationary emergency vehicles on the highway?

The Illinois State Police have reported 11 crashes involving violations of the state move-over law so far in 2026. This data comes after recent incidents on Interstate 55 and Interstate 70 left two troopers injured.

Why it matters

The move-over law requires drivers to slow down and change lanes for emergency vehicles, and these recent incidents prompted the Illinois State Police to issue a public safety reminder. Compliance is critical to protecting officers who perform their duties on the shoulder of the state's roadways.

Violations carry fines between $250 and $10,000, with incidents resulting in injury triggering mandatory driver's license revocation. Authorities are currently processing legal actions against the drivers involved in the recent I-55 and I-70 collisions.

The players

Illinois State Police

The state law enforcement agency responsible for patrolling Illinois highways and enforcing traffic safety laws.

The details

Drivers are legally mandated to slow down and shift lanes when encountering vehicles displaying flashing emergency or hazard lights. Recent incidents include a collision on October 8, 2026, on Interstate 55 and a separate sideswipe on October 9, 2026, on Interstate 70.

In 2024, there were 27 move-over law-related crashes.
In 2025, there were 15 move-over law-related crashes.
On October 8, 2026, a squad car was struck on Interstate 55.
On October 9, 2026, a squad car was sideswiped on Interstate 70.
On October 11, 2026, the Illinois State Police issued a public safety warning.

Legal Context

The Illinois move-over law mandates specific driver conduct when approaching emergency vehicles. These recent crashes underscore the ongoing challenge of enforcing traffic safety regulations aimed at protecting first responders on high-speed roadways.

Drivers must be vigilant when seeing emergency lights on the shoulder to avoid heavy fines and potential license revocation. The rise in injuries to troopers serves as a warning that failure to switch lanes creates immediate physical hazards for everyone on the road.

The takeaway

Drivers should always move over when they see flashing lights to ensure the safety of emergency responders. Failing to do so can result in thousands of dollars in fines and the permanent loss of driving privileges.