Crash Responder Safety Week is underway, running November 8 – 14, 2021. AAA Western and Central New York reminds drivers to help protect workers & emergency personnel along roadways by following the Slow Down, Move Over law. 

Originally known as National Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week, this is a time to improve roadway safety during traffic incidents by raising awareness with the motoring public to encourage all drivers to use caution and responsibility for safe, quick clearance of traffic incidents thereby saving lives.

"Roadside deaths can be avoided if drivers slow down and move over to give workers a safety zone,” said Elizabeth Carey, Director of Public Relations at AAA Western and Central New York. "Emergency roadside assistance is at the core of AAA’s traffic safety mission. Yet, the men and women who help AAA members when they are in need also put their lives on the line every day.”

In New York State, 33 people were killed while outside a disabled vehicle from 2015-2019. The state’s Move Over Law requires all drivers to proceed with caution, and, if possible, move over one lane when passing an emergency vehicle, tow truck, or road maintenance vehicle with flashing or rotating lights parked on the roadside.

But many drivers say they don’t realize the law exists, nor do they understand the safety implications of breaking the law. A recent survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that:  

• nearly a quarter of those surveyed (23%) are unaware of the Move Over law in the state where they live, and 
• among those who are aware of their state's Move Over laws, about 15% report not understanding the potential consequences for violating the Move Over law at all.
• 42% thought this behavior was somewhat or not dangerous at all to roadside emergency workers.

It's not just tow providers and other emergency responders being killed on the side of the road. Since 2015, over 1,600 people have been struck and killed while outside of a disabled vehicle. The reality is that drivers are increasingly distracted while driving. Previous AAA Foundation research has found that drivers are up to four times as likely to crash if they are talking on a cell phone while driving and up to eight times as likely to be in a crash if texting. 

Learn more about what drivers can do to protect roadside workers here.

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