Protect Those At The Roadside. It’s The Law.
Slow Down, Move Over...Save Lives
To protect roadside workers, drivers with disabled vehicles, and others, and to improve highway safety, AAA offers these precautionary tips:
Stay focused and drive sober. Keep your phone out of reach, watch the road ahead, and never drive impaired or drowsy. Safe roadside response requires time, space, and clear judgment.
Slow down early. Ease off the accelerator as soon as you see flashing lights, hazard lights, or a stopped vehicle, and be prepared to pass by with caution.
Move over when it is safe. On multi-lane roads, change lanes to give emergency vehicles, tow trucks, utility vehicles, service vehicles, and disabled vehicles more room.
If you cannot move over, slow down and pass with caution. When approaching an emergency vehicle or other roadside vehicle with flashing lights on a two-lane roadway, reduce your speed to a safe, reasonable pace and proceed carefully unless directed otherwise by emergency personnel. States recommend slowing to a speed that is 10 to 20 mph less than the posted speed limit.
On multi-lane roads, slow down as soon as you see flashing lights and move into an adjacent lane when it is safe to do so. If changing lanes is not possible, slow to a safe and reasonable speed and pass by with extra caution. States recommend slowing to a speed that is 10 to 20 mph less than the posted speed limit.
Understanding the Slow Down, Move Over Law
Public Service Announcement (30-second video)
AAA's message is powerfully told by the very people, our towers and first responders, who put their lives on the line every day to rescue those in need. View our Move Over, Save Lives public service announcement with closed captioning by clicking here.
Making Roadside Safety a Priority
AAA and other traffic safety advocates helped establish Move Over laws in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. While these laws protect roadside responders, stronger protections are needed for all roadside workers and occupants of disabled vehicles. AAA remains committed to promoting awareness and safer practices around stopped vehicles.
An Average of 12 Roadside Service Providers are Killed on the Job Every Year.
Our tow operators are more than the people who come to help when you need them-they're family, friends, parents, children and neighbors. Every day, they work along dangerous roads to keep drivers safe. Slow down, move over and help protect the people who put themselves at risk to protect us.
