ORLANDO, Fla. — As a busy holiday travel weekend gets underway and 2.4 million Floridians are expected to get on roadways, the state’s new expansion of the Move Over law goes into effect. Starting July 1, Florida drivers must either slow down or move over for stalled vehicles.

Safety is top of mind for those with the Florida Highway Patrol as troopers have seen the dangers affecting people stopped on the side of the road.

“Imagine yourself on the side of the road. You need to change your tire, it's on the left side of the vehicle, and you have traffic going by you at 40, 50, 60, 70 miles per hour," Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Tara Crescenzi said. "That could knock you off your feet, and it could knock you into the lane."

Drivers who do not move over can be hit with a fine, fees, and points on their driving record.

Staff with the Florida Department of Transporation say they’re hoping drivers will use commonsense caution when it’s time to get on the road. Simple things like wearing a seatbelt can save lives, as they say many fatalities are caused by not buckling up.

“There’s so very simple things that all of us can do. Everybody in that vehicle should be buckled up, every single time," said Loreen Bobo, FDOT safety administrator. "If you are the driver, just drive. Don’t worry about texting, checking email, doing other things in the car. You have a job while you’re driving. That’s just drive.”

Although it goes without saying, they also want to remind people to never drink and drive. As a last-resort alternative to calling an Uber, AAA has opened its “Tow to Go” program in Florida.

Drivers, even those who aren’t members, can be picked up by AAA and have their car towed home this weekend by calling 1-855-286-9246. For full details, click here.