NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Saturday, Oct. 19 is National Move Over Day. Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas notes that moving over saves lives.
"The Move Over law is really just to protect anybody who is on the side of the road," Steward said. "The current Kansas law requires drivers to slow down, and if they are able to, move over a lane to give those people working on the side of the road space. We're talking about police, fire, other law enforcement, emergency medical personnel, tow truck drivers, anybody who is working on the side of the road."
Those people do it most every day and at least are aware of the danger. That's not necessarily true of a driver with a flat tire.
"It's also important to allow people dealing with a disabled vehicle to also have space to do that safely," Steward said. "Currently, the Kansas law does not cover disabled vehicles, but AAA Kansas, along with support from our other traffic safety partners, will be introducing a bill during the 2025 legislative session to expand the Move Over law to include anybody, basically, on the side of the road."
Recent statistics indicate that more than 75% of all roadside deaths, where the victim was outside of a disabled vehicle, occurred after dark. This is important as the days continue to shorten this fall.
"We obviously have tow truck drivers out there every day, working, helping out our members," Steward said. "Law enforcement, road crews, lots of other people work on the side of the road. It's very important to always be emphasizing this. Until we get to 100% compliance, you know, nobody is safe out there until everybody is moving over and slowing down for people on the roadside."
According to data analyzed by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, nearly 2,000 people were killed outside of the vehicle, in roadside crashes over the five-year period from 2017-2021, and nearly 1,500 of those deaths occurred after dark.