Sunday, May 19, 2024
While millions of Texans commute to work on highways every week, they pass inches away from the worksites for thousands of law enforcement personnel, first responders, and road maintenance crews. Unfortunately, many of them are killed in crashes every year on the job, which is why TxDOT is calling on Texas drivers to keep roadside workers safe by remembering to “Move Over or Slow Down.”
Drivers are required by Texas law to “Move Over or Slow Down” when passing roadside workers. This law requires drivers to move over by putting a lane between them and roadside workers or to reduce their speed to 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit when passing law enforcement, tow trucks, utility vehicles, emergency responders, and TxDOT vehicles stopped with activated overhead lights on the side of the road.
Every year, law enforcement officers, tow truck drivers, and other roadside workers do essential work protecting and maintaining our roads, but some are hit, injured, or killed while serving the community.
The Move Over or Slow Down law requires drivers to:
Be on alert and pay attention when approaching roadside law enforcement, emergency vehicles, tow trucks, utility vehicles, and TxDOT vehicles with flashing lights on.
When possible, move out of the lane closest to these vehicles.
Slow down to 20 mph below the posted speed limit if safely switching lanes is not possible or the road doesn’t offer multiple lanes.
Reduce speed to 5 mph on roadways with posted speed limits of 25 mph or less.
The state’s Move Over or Slow Down law was first passed in 2003 and applied to law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services vehicles. The Texas Legislature has since extended the law’s protections to include TxDOT vehicles, tow trucks, and utility service vehicles.
Changes to the law went into effect on Sept. 1, 2023 and impose heftier penalties for violations, including fines of up to $1,250 for a first offense. Stricter penalties for drivers who cause serious injuries by failing to follow these rules now include possible jail time and a fine of up to $4,000.
Mere feet from speeding traffic across our state, thousands of Texas law enforcement personnel, first responders, and roadside workers are often separated from fast-moving vehicles by only stripes, cones, or barrels. Tragically, many of these officers and workers are killed in crashes every year on the job, which is why TxDOT’s “Be Safe. Drive Smart” campaign is calling on Texas drivers to keep roadside workers safe by remembering to “Move Over or Slow Down.”
The Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining 80,000 miles of road and for supporting aviation, maritime, as well as railway and public transportation across the state.
For further details, visit txdot.gov.
