By Bill Raack, KWMU
St. Louis, Mo. – This has been the deadliest year in Missouri's history for highway patrol troopers.
As a result, the Missouri Highway Patrol is hoping that new signs being installed around the state will force motorists to slow down and avoid emergency vehicles.
So far this year, four state troopers have been killed in the line of duty - the most ever.
"Inattention's the number cause of traffic crashes and the drivers were being inattentive and not moving over into the opposite lane at the direction of the law enforcement officer," says Highway Patrol spokesperson Julie Scerine.
"We had two troopers killed [this year] that way."
Missouri and Illinois both have laws requiring drivers to use merge into left lanes to get as far away as possible from police cars, ambulances and other vehicles that have their lights flashing.
"We're trying to work very hard to educate the public, let them all know, make them aware that this law is in effect and it needs to be adhered to," Scerine added. "It's a very important law and it's killing our troopers and law enforcement officers on the shoulder of the road when people are not obeying that law."
Five "move over or slow down" signs will be installed along several interstates in the St. Louis area. A total of 17 will be erected around Missouri by the end of November.