When a state trooper pulled his cruiser over to the side of the road to attend to a car fire on Interstate 495 in Norton last week, another vehicle plowed into the cruiser.

The accident was not all that uncommon. About 60 state police cruisers have been hit since 2006.

Sen. James Timilty said he was talking about the situation with a state trooper friend recently when he decided to try to do something about it.

"He was talking to me about the horror show of being out there late at night," said Timilty, D-Walpole.

Timilty is pushing a bill that would require motorists to pull over to the left whenever possible when approaching emergency vehicles. The measure calls for fines of up to $500 for those who fail to comply when it is safe to do so. The senator said he also wants the state to run public service announcements on TV educating motorists on the need to make room for emergency vehicles on the side of the road or breakdown lane.

He said an association of tow truck drivers and state troopers are backing the bill, which is pending before the transportation committee and has already held a hearing on it.

At least 40 states already have similar laws, and Timilty said he believes his bill has a fair chance in the Legislature.