Photo: Scott Nolen
Washington — Over a third of drivers fail to slow down or change lanes when approaching a roadway incident, results of a recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety show.
“Slow Down, Move Over” laws exist in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. They’re intended to protect emergency responders and stranded drivers from being struck by passing vehicles.
Researchers interviewed traffic safety officials and conducted focus groups with 135 drivers across 10 states. They also reviewed real-world videos from traffic cameras that captured more than 12,000 vehicles passing 169 incident scenes in 13 states.
The video footage showed that 36% of the drivers didn’t change lanes and/or slow down. And in the states where a specific speed reduction is part of the law, “very few drivers reduced their speed to the degree required.”
The researchers also found many drivers weren’t aware of the specifics of their states’ laws, including the types of vehicles covered and the actions required. (AAA maintains a chart of “Move Over” laws by state.)
The foundation reports that 46 emergency responders died after being struck by vehicles while working on the scene of roadway incidents last year. That includes 26 law enforcement officers and 12 tow truck operators.
“We need drivers to understand that slowing down and moving over isn’t just the law, it’s a lifesaving act,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesperson for The Auto Club Group. “Every responder lost is a father, mother, son or daughter who didn’t make it home.”
McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.
Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication