In light of a near tragic accident involving a Cumby Police Officer who was struck by a vehicle while assisting a stranded motorist on Sunday night, we wanted to share the MOVE OVER/SLOW DOWN law with our readers.
The Move Over or Slow Down law requires motorists traveling on multi-lane roadways to, when practical, merge away from a vehicle working on the side of the highway to provide an empty travel lane of safety for the worker. If not practical, either due to traffic volume or road design, the motorists must reduce their speed by 20 MPH on highways.
The Move Over or Slow Down law originally passed in 2003 and required motorists to move over or slow down when police, fire or EMS vehicles, as well as, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) vehicles and tow trucks are stopped on the side of the road with warning lights activated.
As of September 1, 2019, Texas motorists are now also required to move over and slow down for utility service vehicles that are stopped on the side of the road restoring power or performing other work. This includes solid waste collection vehicles, like recycling, composting and garbage trucks that are in the process of collection were also added to the law this month.
The National Safety Council and the Emergency Responder Safety Institute says that drivers are more distracted around emergency vehicles.
A survey conducted by the NSCERS revealed that 16% – more than 1 in 10 – said they either have struck or nearly struck a first responder or emergency vehicle stopped on or near the road. In spite of all this, 89% of drivers say they believe distracted motorists are a major source of risk to first responders.
Furthermore, 71% of U.S. drivers take photos or videos when they see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road responding to a fire or a crash, or simply making a routine traffic stop. Sixty percent post to social media, and 66% send an email about the situation – all while behind the wheel. Those distracting behaviors are markedly less frequent, but still alarming, during normal driving conditions – 24% of drivers surveyed said they take photos or video while driving, 29% admitted to using social media and 24% said they send email.
According to transportation.gov, from 2007 to 2017, 39 percent of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty were lost in traffic-related incidents. Many have been seriously injured.
This is a tragedy and completely preventable.
Every driver has a part to play in keeping first responders safe. When you see a first responder or other vehicle with flashing lights, please slow down, move over, and give them space to stay safe. “Move Over” is not only the law in all fifty states, but is also the courteous thing to do. And when you safely move over, you are signaling to the drivers behind you that they should follow your lead.
