Today I was proud to stand with state troopers, police officers and other first responders to celebrate the enactment of legislation making it mandatory for motorists to change lanes when approaching the flashing lights of a parked police or emergency vehicle on the highway. The measure was approved by the legislature in June and signed into law by the governor in August.

I sponsored the so-called "move-over" bill to prevent tragedies such as those that claimed the lives of New York State Trooper Robert Ambrose and Onondaga County Deputy Sheriff Glenn M. Searles, both of whom were stuck and killed in 2002 and 2003, respectively, by oncoming vehicles as they attended to what should have been routine roadside traffic duties.

Law enforcement officers, ambulance crews and others in the field of emergency response encounter a level of danger that is unfortunately inherent to their professions. This bill bears the names of Trooper Ambrose and Deputy Searles as a reminder of the many risks these men and women take - and of our responsibility to protect them, even as they protect us, in every way we can.

It is my hope that this will make the highways less hazardous for those who have devoted themselves to the safety and well-being of others. I want to thank all those who helped in the development of this bill as well as my colleagues in the legislature and the governor for their partnership in making today a reality.

The bill also stipulates that New York State driver's license tests be adjusted to reflect the new move-over requirement.