AAA Pushes for the Move Over Law in All 50 States

According to a press release today from Hispanicwire.com, AAA has teamed up with law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and state highway workers in a year long campaign, to protect roadside workers and stranded motorists.

AAA hopes to have all 50 states enact the Move Over Law. Currently only 40 states require motorists to "move over" when they see the flashing lights of emergency vehicles. This law require motorists to change lanes so that there is an empty travel lane between their vehicle and emergency vehicles along the roadside. If it is not possible to open up a lane, then they have to slow down while approaching and passing a traffic incident. Currently only 24 states have provisions for tow trucks and other roadside assistance vehicles. AAA hopes to enact the Move Over laws in states were there are none and to expand the laws to include protection for the tow trucks and assistance vehicles.

Part of the year long campaign will be testimonies from NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver David Ragan. David is the rookie driver of the Roush Fenway Racing No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion. David has personal experience relating to AAA and the move over policy. David's father, Ken Ragan, is a former tow truck driver for AAA, so he knows all about the dangers of roadside assistance. When David is racing, all drivers must slow down and move over when there is an accident on the track.

Recently at a conference at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, Robert L. Darbelnet the president and CEO of AAA stated, "AAA has no greater responsibility than to help safeguard motorists who are stranded on the roadside, as well as those who work everyday to protect them. For this reason, we have joined the nation's first-responders as part of the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition to improve roadside safety and are dedicating our 2008 national racing sponsorship toward this effort, with assistance from David Ragan and Roush Fenway Racing."

According to the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition, each year, approximately 200 roadside workers are killed in crashes. Approximately 800 motorists are killed each year in highway work zones or places where stranded motorists are being helped. Many more workers and people insides their vehicles are injured.

Founded in 1902, AAA with nearly 51 million members, is a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.

Source:
AAA & Nation's First Responders Ask Motorists to 'Slow Down, Move Over' to Reduce Deaths and Injuries
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