Saturday, October 17th has been deemed National Move Over Day. National Move Over Day began in 2014 by the Arizona Professional Towing Association to help raise public awareness to the Move Over Law.
Each day, emergency responders and highway workers risk their own safety to come to the aid of others on Pennsylvania roadways. This band of heroes includes people like:
- EMS workers
- Fire Police
- Firefighters
- Police Officers
- Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Maintenance Crews & PennDOT Workers
- Tow Truck Operators and others
These men and women confront real danger each time they are called into action. While on scene, responders must perform difficult jobs while also thinking about serious dangers very close-by. The worst threats are from what are known as “D” drivers. These are drivers who are:
- Drunk
- Drugged
- Drowsy
- Distracted
- or Dangerous
In all, 151Pennsylvania emergency responders have been struck and killed while assisting others on Pennsylvania roadways. This number does not include the 110 PennDOT and Turnpike workers who have also been struck and killed while on duty. In the United States:
- two emergency responder are stuck each day, on average, while working along the roadway.
- one emergency responder is stuck and injured every two days, on average, while working along the roadway.
- one emergency responder is struck and killed every seven days, on average, while working along the roadway.
- So far this year, 38 emergency responders have been struck and killed – even with traffic volumes down significantly since March. This includes two Pennsylvania emergency responders:
- Paramedic Matt Smelser in Westmoreland County.
- Tow Operator and Volunteer Firefighter Tyler Laudenslager in Berks County.
- 44 emergency responders were struck and killed in 2019.
To underscore the critical importance of this issue, the state legislature is now considering a bill that would double the current fine for injuring or killing an emergency responder — plus add two points against the driver’s record. The measure, Senate Bill 1281, would also change the name of the Pennsylvania Steer Clear Law to the Move Over Law to be consistent with what all other states call it. We are hopeful for passage of this bill in the current legislative session.
PA Highway Responders and Workers rely on your good judgment to help get them home safely at the end of the day. For their sake, please, slow down to not more than 20 mph below the posted speed limit and move over for responders and roadway workers.
For more information and updated statistics please visit ResponderSafety.com.
