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There is a trend in a variety of states across the U.S. to crack down on those motorists who do not observe "Slow Down, Move Over" laws that require drivers to reduce their speed and clear the lane next to emergency responders and motorists who are parked on the shoulders of highways. (In fact, the dangers involved in emergency situations mean some first responders now have robots to assist them.) As of 2012, every state in the union had one of these laws, but they provided protection only to fire, police, and ambulance personnel. As time went on, a number of states expanded these laws to cover road crews, utility vehicles, and tow trucks. The latest development involves expanding these laws to cover anyone who finds themselves stuck by the side of the road.
According to the Emergency Responder Safety Institute, a total of 46 persons responding to a roadside emergency lost their lives while helping people by the roadside during 2024. This was in spite of the presence of Slow Down, Move Over laws being in effect in every single state.
A recent study put out by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has revealed that, because of both drivers' lack of compliance and poor understanding about these laws, more than one-third of all drivers do not slow down or move over when workers are present on the roadside. The other two-thirds either changed lanes or reduced their speed but did not do both. The study found that fewer motorists slowed down or moved over for tow trucks, while a higher percentage conformed with this behavior for police vehicles.
AAA, which offers many services you might have not known about, provided several recommendations for improving the public's awareness of and compliance with these Slow Down, Move Over laws that already exist in every state. It recommends that all 50 states' laws be standardized to give protection to all types of vehicles on the roadside and to any person who happens to end up there. It also suggests a public education campaign that starts with driver's ed. classes and reaches older drivers through public service announcements, navigation apps, and roadway signs.
Finally, AAA acknowledged that more emphasis needs to be put on enforcement of these Slow Down, Move Over laws, with an initial emphasis on making the driving public more aware of these laws. This should then provide the desired result of having more drivers observe them by slowing down and moving over, which will save many more lives of first responders, roadside workers, and anyone else who finds themselves stuck on the side of the road. (Just in case that person is you, you may want to check out these Milwaukee apparel items to keep safe.) And that's a good thing.
Slow Down, Move Over laws already exist in every U.S. state that you will ever drive through. So it only makes sense to be alert for any vehicles stopped by the roadside, slow down if you see any, and move over whenever possible to give them some space to do what they need to do and get home safely.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Runaway1956 on Sunday March 01 2026, @11:57PM (5 children)
This all started in Indiana. Or, I'm really damned sure it started in Indiana. That's the first state I saw these signs. The Interstate Highway system was mostly built to specifications, than included, I think, 8 ft emergency breakdown lanes. In fact, most of the states have 12 ft lanes. That is, you can pretty safely park a tractor trailer to the extreme right of a breakdown lane, leaving enough room to walk between that truck, and traffic.
Not Indiana. Somehow they got an exemption, and the lanes are barely wide enough to park the average privately owned car/pickup. No room to walk between that car, and oncoming traffic. No room for a large commercial vehicle. A lot of people were killed on Indiana highways for that reason. So, instead of fixing the stupid, Indiana decided to pass a law. As so often happens, a lot of other states started passing similar laws, just because they didn't want to be outdone.
Cops could have "fixed" a lot of the stupid, all by themselves. The Great State of Texas trains troopers to approach the PASSENGER SIDE of the vehicle, away from traffic. Other states used to teach the same. But, now, the law encourages cops to work on the driver's side of the vehicle, right in front of traffic.
I've actually argued with cops in the past about that nonsense. "Well, if you hit me you've broken the law!" "Hey, dummy, if you're dead, you don't give a shit about the law." No one is ten feet tall and bullet proof, not cops, firefighters, EMS, or wrecker crews. Watching out for yourself will eliminate a lot of grief, and a lot of widows and orphans.
Alternative für Deutschland
(Score: 1) by anubi on Monday March 02 2026, @01:11AM (4 children)
Unfortunately, every employed individual is a genetic to the ones employing him/her/it and must subjugate their own common sense / intellect to the letter of the instructions given.
I have seen this happen so many times when dealing with people of a "subordinate" mentality. Apparently dumb as a bag of rocks. Following orders.
I have seen this paradigm destroy huge established companies when financial types buy successful establishments , subordinating the leadership that built the company and its reputation, under new executives with a different mindset. The trust in a company reputation with 100 years in the making will be purchased by financial mavens ( using other people's money, no less ! ) and destroyed in 5 to 10 years before the company customers discover the company can no longer deliver a quality product.
The business tycoons have already made their money with all their management fees and stock market promotions selling their castrated animal as a prime performer to unwitting buyers ( people who bought the stock ) , who are left holding buildings full of inexperienced employees with former customers seeking others who can do the job. Often having to go to other nations to find other companies ( competitors to the former employer ) that hasn't been subjugated with the latest business mentality. In much the same way many of us are trying to avoid many brands of cars and appliances prone to disappointing performance compared to what they used to do.
I even note this in some police officers who appear about as intelligent as a pistol. That comes right out of a CIA instruction manual for taking down organizations using "Malicious Compliance" and "Deliberate Indifference", with the goal of destroying trust in public institutions by demonstrating the folly of authority sans intelligence. A lot of this is "Mens Rea" type stuff, where both obedience and common sense are considered. Inexperienced people can be quite stupid. But they learn.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 2, Informative) by anubi on Monday March 02 2026, @01:18AM (3 children)
First line: change "subordinate" to "genetic".
I don't know what happened .
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 3, Funny) by anubi on Monday March 02 2026, @01:24AM (2 children)
Dammit
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Wednesday March 04 2026, @03:08AM
Besides laughing, and thanks for the laugh, when I first read it I thought you meant "genetic", and I like the concept. Was probably a Freudian slip?
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Wednesday March 04 2026, @03:10AM
Rather than "dammit" I see "D'oh!"