Road safety advocates encourage awareness in Lexington on National Move Over Day

LEXINGTON, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — October 19 is National Move Over Day, aimed at promoting better safety measures for people and vehicles on the road.

Lori Weaver Hawkins, Public Affairs Manager for AAA Bluegrass told FOX 56, “Every six days, a tow driver loses their life working roadside.”

But that’s just one of the staggering statistics that make this advocacy day even more important.

“Triple-A is reminding people of the ‘Slow Down, Move Over’ law that we have here in Kentucky, as well as every state in the nation,” Hawkins said.

That law, which has been in place in Kentucky since 2003, requires drivers to slow down, and if they can, move over a lane when first responders are on the side of the road.

In July of this year, though, that law expanded .

“Just as we ask drivers to slow down and move over for our first responders, but we’re also asking that they do so for fellow motorists that find themselves at the roadside,” says Hawkins.

Research from AAA found that 1,874 people in the U.S. were hit by a vehicle while outside of a disabled one over a five-year period from 2017-2021.

To better ensure roadside safety, there can be a hefty price to pay for not following this law.

Hawkins says, “Not only is it a safe thing to do, but it’s the law. And actually, if you don’t, follow that law, there’s up to a $500 fine.”

Even during the busiest times of the day, it’s not always possible to move into the next lane, but in that case, Hawkins says you should always slow down.

“When you see somebody, working, alongside the road or someone, stranded there. Those people also have, friends and family,” says Hawkins. “They want to make it back home safely to them at the end of the day. And so, we can all play a role in helping them to do so.”

So, the next time you’re driving past a vehicle, first responders or workers on the side of the road, slow down and move over. If you don’t, it could cost you money and it could cost someone else their life.

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