AAA South Dakota
Roadside workers, including law enforcement officers, construction crews, utility workers, refuse collectors, and tow truck operators, risk their lives daily while working just feet from fast-moving traffic. Their roles are diverse, but their contributions are vital to the safety and functionality of our communities.
AAA South Dakota and traffic safety partners around the state are recognizing National Move Over Day on October 18th to raise awareness of the dangers roadside workers face and to promote compliance with South Dakota’s Move Over law.
National Move Over Day aims to raise awareness and remind drivers to be on the lookout for roadside workers year-round but especially as the days are shorter and darkness comes earlier. Recent traffic crash analysis by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety indicates that more than 75% of all roadside deaths occur after dark.
The Urgency Behind the Message
The dangers along the roadside are real, and the statistics are sobering:
- According to the Emergency Responder Safety Institute, 19 traffic incident management responders were killed due to roadside collisions across the United States this year.
- A towing technician loses his or her life every six days on America’s roadways, according to the Towing & Recovery Association of America.
“This is why we’re urging drivers to slow down, move over, and stay alert,” said Tom Wiedemann, CEO of AAA Club Alliance. “Our AAA emergency roadside service providers are committed to rescuing stranded motorists. We need all drivers to be equally committed to protecting them.”
Understanding South Dakota’s Move Over Law
Move Over laws exist in all 50 states. AAA and other traffic safety advocates have been instrumental in the passage of laws to better protect tow truck drivers, road construction workers, and first responders.
The South Dakota ‘Move Over’ law applies to vehicles involved in law enforcement, highway maintenance workers, emergency response, service (tow trucks), and motorists experiencing mechanical trouble. South Dakota’s Move Over law requires travelers to move over and/or slow down when a stopped vehicle is in use of amber, yellow, or blue warning lights. A violation of this law is a Class 2 misdemeanor, which is punishable by a minimum fine of $270.00 and/or 30 days in jail. Failure to move over resulting in a crash with a stopped vehicle using appropriate signals is a Class 1 misdemeanor. To learn more about the Move Over law, see South Dakota codified law SDCL 32-31-6.2.
Safety Recommendations for Drivers
To help protect roadside workers, drivers with disabled vehicles, and to improve highway safety, AAA offers these precautionary tips:
- Stay alert, avoid distractions, and focus completely on the task of driving.
- Watch for emergency vehicles, tow trucks, utility vehicles, and disabled vehicles on the roadside.
- Slow down and, if possible, move over when approaching these situations.
“As driving is a shared responsibility, we all play a role in keeping roadside workers, as well as fellow drivers dealing with a broken-down vehicle, safe,” said Shawn Steward, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA South Dakota. “By paying attention, slowing down, and moving over, we reduce the risk for those working or stranded just feet away from traffic.”