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  • How the Move Over Law protects towing drivers

    Roadside accidents are tragic. In a brief moment, individuals may be permanently injured or killed. Rules of safe driving are designed to help prevent accidents, but they still happen. Too often, accidents occur because of drivers’ unfamiliarity with safety laws. Many drivers, for example, are not familiar with the Move Over Law. But by following the Move Over Law, drivers can protect emergency response personnel, towing drivers and stranded motorists from injury or death while they’re on the side of the road. The Move Over Law The Move Over Law is a law about drivers’ safety. In more than 40 U.S. states, including California, drivers are required to “move over” when emergency vehicles are present and displaying flashing emergency lights. Stranded drivers can also be protected by flashing their hazard lights. Drivers must move over to a non-adjacent lane so emergency towing driver and other responders can safely navigate the area. If this is not practical or safe, drivers are required to slow down to a speed safe for current conditions (including weather, road, and traffic conditions). Drivers must be prepared to stop or move out of the way to protect people or items that could come into their lane. All drivers who obey this law by moving over for any vehicle with flashing lights on the side of the road can save lives by doing so. Failure to follow this law may result in a fine of several hundred dollars, and it may also cause serious injury or death for those involves in an accident or collision. How Tow Truck Drivers are Affected The Move Over Law was designed to protect drivers of emergency vehicles, including tow truck drivers. A tow truck driver providing towing services may fall victim to a preventable accident when he responds to a call for emergency roadside assistance if nearby drivers fail to obey the Move Over Law. Towing drivers are responsible many for roadside services — accident removal, towing a broken-down vehicle, changing a flat tire on the side of the freeway or delivering fuel to a motorist whose car has run out of gas A truck driver is killed in the United States every six days while providing roadside service or towing services. Highway workers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and others are also killed. It’s a hazard of working in the towing industry. But it shouldn’t be. Towing services are indispensable to every driver, and doing their jobs should not have to be a life-or-death situation. The Move Over Law exists to protect professional towing technicians while they’ve helping stranded drivers. Drivers unfamiliar with this law should take care to familiarize themselves with what they must do so they can protect towing drivers and other emergency responders and individuals on the side of the road. Unlawful drivers who ignore this law may become responsible for the death or serious injury of a towing technician performing his or her job.

  • Massachusetts “Move Over” law applies to all emergency, maintenance vehicles

    Every year, first responders across the country are injured or killed while helping drivers on the side of the road. We saw this first hand last week in Massachusetts,when State Trooper Thomas Clardy was struck and killed during a traffic stop.

  • South Dakota: Moving Over Isn't Just For Safety, It's The Law

    An accident, which left a Highway Patrol Officer with minor injuries early Saturday morning, is believed to have been caused by a driver not moving over to the other side of the road.

  • Connecticut: Hundreds cited in 'Move Over' campaign

    Marcarelli recalled one incident in which a fire truck was hit on Interstate 91. The driver in that case was distracted, which Marcarelli and Grant both said is a frequent problem.

  • New Jersey: Legislation that would rename the “Move Over Law” after State Trooper Sean Cullen.

    A pair of state senators intend to introduce legislation that would rename the “Move Over Law” after State Trooper Sean Cullen,

  • New York: Move over law: What happens when you really can't move over?

    The move over law has been in effect for nearly five years, but what happens when you really can't move over for an emergency vehicle on the side of the road?

  • Michigan State Police to motorists: Remember state's 'move over' law

    Michigan State Police is reminding drivers of the state’s move over law, which requires drivers to pass stationary emergency vehicles with caution.

  • Connecticut: Hundreds in Connecticut Cited Under 'Move Over' law; Emergency Responders Call for Improved Road Safety

    Flashing red, blue and yellow lights are a familiar sight on the highways around Connecticut, but a new campaign shows drivers aren’t giving emergency responders enough room to safely do their jobs.

  • Canada: ‘I’ve had close calls’: Tow truck drivers raise roadside safety concerns after near misses

    AMA tow truck operators are asking Calgary drivers for help. They say many are forgetting to slow down and give them room to work while they clear smashed and stranded vehicles from busy roadways.

  • Connecticut: State police issue 479 tickets for 'Move Over' violations

    State police troopers issued 479 tickets during its "Move Over Law campaign" that is meant to raise awareness about the state's law that motorists move over on the highway, when it's safe to do so, to make room for emergency vehicles, highway maintenance crews and tow trucks.

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