Q: So I was wondering, y’all write about things that are important, what about the Slow Down Move Over Law that NOBODY seems to adhere to? The reason I ask is because I am a tow truck operator and I was hit by a taxi cab while working. Drivers need to be aware of this law to increase emergency crew safety.
A: Let’s establish a minimum expectation for the emergency and work zone law: if you crash into a tow truck you’re doing it wrong. Actually, let’s establish a much higher expectation – that drivers know and follow the law.
It’s been fifteen years since Washington first passed a law to protect emergency responders and road workers. During those fifteen years the law has received a few updates, the last one being in 2019. By now every licensed driver should know about the law. However, I suspect that some drivers know a law exists, but don’t really know what it says or what they should actually do when they encounter an emergency vehicle. Allow me to explain it with two more questions.
What is an emergency or work zone? It’s the adjacent lanes of the roadway two hundred feet before and after any of the following vehicles:
- Authorized emergency vehicles using audible or visual signs (like fire trucks and ambulances)
- Tow trucks making use of visual red lights
- Vehicles providing roadside assistance using warning lights (like WSDOT Incident Response Trucks)
- Police vehicles displaying emergency lights
- Stationary or slow moving highway construction or maintenance vehicles, solid waste vehicles, or utility service vehicles using flashing or warning lights
How do you drive in an emergency or work zone? If there are two or more lanes going in your direction and you can safely move over to create more distance between you and the emergency vehicle, the law requires you to move over. If you only have one lane in your direction, slow down, and if the oncoming lane is clear, move left to give the emergency vehicle more room. If changing lanes or moving left would be unsafe, the law requires drivers to reduce their speed by to at least ten mph slower than the posted speed limit (this part was new in 2019).
Emergency responders and road workers put themselves at risk daily to help other drivers and keep our roads safe. As an example of the risk, from 2016 until August of 2019, the Washington State Patrol reported that 104 patrol cars were hit on the side of the road, resulting in 27 injuries. That’s just one sample from the many agencies that are involved in serving our communities on the road.
I agree with the writer of this question; abiding by the emergency and work zone law will protect lives. But I do feel the need to contest one part of the question – the “nobody” part. I’m not denying that this law gets violated all too frequently. I’ve talked to local officers who have told me that when they conduct targeted enforcement of this law (you heard that right; police make a point of writing tickets for this violation) they have no trouble finding violators. However, when I see an emergency vehicle on the freeway, I notice that most drivers are joining me in moving into the left lane as we pass. Like speeding, distracted driving and tailgating, negative driving behavior jumps out at us. Meanwhile, we tend not to notice the many safe drivers. Although I haven’t found one for the Move Over law, observational studies have confirmed that many other risky driving behaviors are in the minority and I suspect that if a study were done for the Move Over law, we’d find similar results.
Drivers should do the right thing because it’s the right thing, but in an effort to be thorough, I’ll also cover the consequences of doing it wrong. Violating the emergency and work zone law results in a ticket with a doubled fine that, by law, “may not be waived, reduced or suspended.” Violating the law in a way that endangers or is likely to endanger an emergency worker results is a crime – reckless endangerment of emergency or work zone workers. Yep, you can go to jail for it and your license will be suspended for 60 days. And most importantly, violating the law increases the risk of injuring or killing someone whose work is a service to the community.
Fortunately, it’s easy not to violate this law. Start by looking well beyond where you’re at on the road (you’re already scanning for distant hazards, right?) If you see emergency lights up ahead, move left or slow down and drive cautiously. That’s it. Doing this is a way of respecting and protecting our friends and neighbors as they do their jobs on the road.
I not only move out for emergency vehicles , but for all vehicles parked on the shoulder that may have someone moving about , because all lives are important not just emergency responders lives.
I reiterate my previous response. All lives are important, not just emergency responders lives, move out for all vehicles parked close to traffic lanes where someone may be present, not just emergency responders. This law is short sighted and looks like emergency responders are only looking out for themselves.
Thank you for explaining that tow trucks can utilize visual red lights. My friend told me that his car needs emergency towing. I should advise him to turn to a firm that provides 24-hour emergency vehicle towing services.