COOS BAY - Nationwide statistics reveal that more than 700 officers were struck and killed in the last decade, while they were working on the side of the highway.

Even though there haven't been any deaths or serious injuries in Coos County, local law enforcement are still reminding drivers of a relatively new law.

According to OSP Lieutenant Steve Smartt, passing traffic is the number one danger for them on the roads, and that's why the Move Over law was created four years ago, to ensure their safety.

"It's just the nature of the beast when those red and blues are going that sometimes people are focused on what's happening and not what's around," says Smartt. "They don't really do what they need to do sometimes."

The law states that when a emergency vehicle is working on the roadside, drivers need to move over to another lane, or if it's not safe to do so, they need to slow down.

"South of Coos Bay in the safety corridor where traffic tends to move a little quicker, especially the rush hours before and after work that could be a problem," says Smartt.

Smartt says, in Coos County, some trouble areas include parts of Highway 42 and Coos Bay, where there are two lanes of traffic in one direction.

Failure to comply to the Move Over law can result in a hefty fine of up to $355. They plan to step up patrols in the coming weeks to make sure everyone abides by it.