On four-lane highways, North Dakota's Transportation Department wants drivers to treat a stopped road grader just like an ambulance.

North Dakota law requires drivers to change lanes and slow down for ambulances, fire trucks, police cars and other emergency vehicles when they're stopped alongside the highway.

The agency asked the House Transportation Committee on Friday to include road maintenance equipment in the definition of "emergency vehicle." Gary Berreth, the agency's operations director, called the change a "move over" law.

"Operators have reported numerous close calls, when vehicles have come close to hitting our equipment or workers," he said. One worker was hit and injured near Mandan, he said.

A driver who doesn't change lanes or slow down could be fined $50, and have two penalty points assessed against his or her driver's license.

The House Transportation Committee delayed action on the legislation, because lawmakers said it was too broadly written.

Berreth wanted the bill to apply only to divided, four-lane highways outside city limits, but lawmakers said it would affect all encounters with maintenance equipment. Drivers would have to yield to road graders downtown, and stop for mowers on two-lane highways.

Committee members said they supported the bill's goal.

"This is one place, maybe, where we can legislate common sense," said Rep. Elwood Thorpe, D-Minot.