This week, November 17–21, is Crash Responder Safety Week, and it’s a vital time to get serious about roadway safety. Every single day, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, tow truck operators, and Department of Transportation personnel are out on our highways and roads. They are working mere feet away from speeding traffic, trying to help people in crisis. They direct traffic, administer aid, and do the difficult work required to clear a crash scene and get the roadway open again.
The greatest threat they face while on the job isn’t usually from the original incident. It’s the failure of passing drivers to be alert, to slow down, and to move over. This preventable mistake tragically results in responders being hit, injured, or killed every single year.
The Law Is Not a Suggestion
Think about your last drive: when you see those flashing blue, red, and yellow lights ahead, what is your first reaction? You're expected to slow down and, if possible, move away from the stopped vehicle. Drivers who are distracted or moving too fast turn a routine emergency scene into a sudden, chaotic danger zone.
This is why the "Move Over" law is so crucial. It is the law in every state, and it is built on a foundation of basic respect for human life.
While the details of the law vary state by state, the general idea is the same. When you see any stationary emergency or service vehicle with flashing lights, you must take two immediate actions:
- Move Over: If you are on a multi-lane road, you are required to safely move out of the lane that is closest to the responders. You must create a full lane of buffer space. That is their workplace, and it is a dangerous one.
- Slow Down: If you cannot safely change lanes, you are legally obligated to slow down significantly as you pass the scene.
What’s a few extra seconds on your trip compared to a person’s life?
Your Responsibility
Crash Responder Safety Week is an important time to reinforce this message, but this commitment to safety must extend to every day, every drive.
It takes only a moment of awareness to see the lights, reduce your speed, and safely move over. Do it for the EMT, the police officer, or the tow operator who just wants to make it home to their family at the end of their shift. Let’s make sure that when a first responder answers a call, they are protected by every driver who passes by.
Interested in learning more about traffic safety?
Are you looking for defensive driving and traffic school courses? Do you want a discount on your auto insurance? Do you know a teen who’s ready to take an online driver education course?
Safe2Drive is here to help! We offer convenient online courses for drivers of any age! Visit our website today to learn about the online courses we offer in your state.
This week, November 17–21, is Crash Responder Safety Week, and it’s a vital time to get serious about roadway safety. Every single day, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, tow truck operators, and Department of Transportation personnel are out on our highways and roads. They are working mere feet away from speeding traffic, trying to help people in crisis. They direct traffic, administer aid, and do the difficult work required to clear a crash scene and get the roadway open again.