A new study by the AAA Foundation for traffic Safety reveals that widespread confusion and inconsistent enforcement of Slow Down, Move Over laws are putting emergency responders at serious risk. Despite being enacted in all 50 states and D.C. to protect emergency responders working on the roadside, many drivers remain unaware of the laws or misunderstand their requirements, which can lead to tragic consequences on the roadside.
In 2024 alone, 46 emergency responders never made it home, according to the Emergency Responder Safety Institute. They were police officers, firefighters, EMTs and tow truck operators who were all struck and killed while assisting others on the roadside.
“For more than 20 years, AAA has championed ‘Slow Down, Move Over’ laws in every state, yet we are still losing far too many roadside heroes in the line of duty,” said Gene Boehm, President and CEO of AAA National. “It’s clear that awareness alone isn’t enough. Drivers need to understand what these laws require and why they matter.”
The new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that although two-thirds of drivers have heard of Slow Down, Move Over laws, many couldn’t identify whether their state has one or what it requires. Drivers are significantly less likely to slow down or move over for tow trucks or stranded vehicles than for police, revealing a widespread misconception about who the laws protect.
When researchers reviewed real-world footage of drivers passing roadside incidents, they found only 64% of vehicles either slowed down or moved over. The remaining 36% did neither. Changing lanes was far more common than reducing speed, suggesting that many drivers are missing half the law’s intent.
The AAA research reveals several troubling trends:
- Tow truck operators face the greatest risk. Only 58% of drivers in surveillance footage slowed down or moved over when passing a tow truck that was stopped at the roadside, compared to 66% who slowed down or moved over for police vehicles.
- Intentions don’t match actions: Most drivers say they comply with SDMO laws, but roadside video footage shows otherwise, especially when it comes to reducing speed.
- Weak enforcement reduces deterrence. Drivers perceive little risk of being pulled over or ticketed for failing to comply with SDMO laws. Penalties vary greatly across states, from just $30 in Florida to $2,500 in Virginia. In Oregon, the fine is $265, or $525 if the violation occurs in a safety corridor, school zone, or work zone.
“Slow Down, Move Over laws are meant to protect stranded drivers, first responders and roadside workers who are often just inches away from traffic speeding by. When drivers don’t comply with Slow Down Move Over laws, our roadside heroes are put at significant risk, with some paying the ultimate price,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho. “As drivers, we all need to do better to ensure that every responder working on the roadside will be able to go home at the end of their day.”
AAA encourages policymakers, law enforcement and safety partners to strengthen and align SDMO laws nationwide.
AAA’s recommendations include:
- Clarifying and standardizing SDMO laws across all states, including a consistent definition of “slow down.”
- Raise awareness with public education campaigns that show the risks of drivers not complying with SDMO laws, and the people who are tragically impacted.
- Increasing enforcement visibility through coordinated, high-visibility efforts and use of emerging technologies including dashcams and automated enforcement systems.
AAA is also working to protect technicians and tow providers by offering innovative solutions that improve safety at the roadside, partnering with companies such as HAAS Alert to deliver real-time roadside alerts to drivers, helping them respond appropriately to protect those working on the side of the road.
Oregon’s Slow Down Move Over law:
AAA advocated for the passage of Oregon’s first Slow Down Move Over law in 2010, requiring drivers to move over a lane or slow down five miles below the speed limit for an emergency vehicle, a roadside assistance vehicle, a tow vehicle or ambulance, when it is displaying warning lights. In 2017, AAA and other traffic safety advocates worked to strengthen the law to include any vehicle stopped displaying hazard lights. This law went into effect on January 1, 2018.
Penalties for violating Oregon’s slow down/move over law include a fine of $265, or $525 if the violation occurs in a safety corridor, school zone, or work zone. More severe penalties, such as misdemeanor or felony charges and jail time, are possible if the violation leads to injury or property damage. https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ORS_811.147
