Kansas is pushing for a change to its current traffic laws with a new bill that would expand the state’s Slow-Down, Move-Over Law. This law is currently designed to protect emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and maintenance workers who work on the side of the road. However, it doesn’t include regular drivers whose vehicles are disabled or stopped on the roadside. A new bill, backed by AAA, aims to include these drivers in the law, ensuring their safety too.
What Is the ‘Move Over Law’?
Kansas’ existing Slow-Down, Move-Over Law requires drivers to either move to another lane or slow down when passing vehicles that are stopped or disabled on the side of the road. This law was put in place to help protect emergency responders, tow truck drivers, and workers in roadside construction or maintenance. However, the law doesn’t currently cover regular drivers who might be stuck on the road with a broken-down car or after an accident.
The law has been effective in protecting emergency workers, but as it stands, there is a gap. Drivers who have their car break down or are involved in an accident are not provided the same level of protection. AAA Kansas is now working to change that.
The Problem
Every year, hundreds of crashes happen because drivers do not slow down or move over when passing a disabled vehicle on the side of the road. These crashes have led to many injuries and even deaths. Over the past five years, there have been about 200 crashes a year involving stopped or disabled vehicles. Sadly, this has resulted in 10 deaths, with many others injured.
Shawn Steward from AAA Kansas explained that people who break down on the side of the road are usually not trained to handle the dangers of being near moving traffic. Unlike emergency responders and tow truck drivers, who are experienced with roadside dangers and know how to protect themselves, regular drivers are often unaware of the risks and how to stay safe.
In a tragic example, just in early January 2025, a grandmother and her grandchild were hit by a truck while they were on the side of the road after a crash on I-35. This is just one of many incidents where people stopped to help or fix their cars on the side of the road have been hit by passing vehicles.
What the New Bill Proposes
The new bill seeks to expand the existing law by including regular drivers who are stopped or have a disabled vehicle. The law would require drivers to either move over a lane or, if that’s not possible, slow down significantly when passing these vehicles that have their hazard lights on.
Shawn Steward emphasized that the goal of the new bill is to make sure everyone on the road stays safe. By adding regular disabled or stopped vehicles to the Move-Over Law, the bill aims to protect drivers who may not be aware of the dangers they face when stranded on the side of the road. The law would encourage other drivers to be more cautious and responsible when they see someone in trouble on the roadside.
Kansas is not alone in considering this change. In fact, 25 other states, including neighboring Colorado and Oklahoma, have already passed similar laws that include regular disabled vehicles. If the bill is approved in Kansas, drivers who fail to follow the rules could face a fine of $75.
However, there are exceptions. The bill would not apply to abandoned vehicles that are left on the side of the road, especially those marked with a tag by law enforcement. These vehicles would not require drivers to move over or slow down under the law.
Why This Law Matters
The issue of safety on the roadside is important for everyone. Whether you’re a police officer, tow truck driver, or just a regular person dealing with a flat tire, the dangers of being on the side of the road are real. The goal of this new law is simple: to reduce accidents, injuries, and deaths that happen when drivers don’t follow the rules of the road.
AAA Kansas has been advocating for this law for a while and is hopeful that lawmakers will approve it this year. With support from transportation agencies and law enforcement, the bill is expected to be discussed at a hearing in the Kansas Senate on Thursday.
Final Thoughts
The proposed bill represents a positive change that could save lives. By extending the protection of the Slow-Down, Move-Over Law to all drivers, Kansas can make its roads safer for everyone, not just emergency responders and road workers. As we wait for the law to be discussed, drivers in Kansas are reminded to be cautious and considerate when they encounter someone stranded on the roadside. The new law could be a big step toward making our roads safer.
(Source : kwch.com)
