SoCal Man Who Almost Lost His Life Encourages Drivers To Move Over Or Slow Down Before Passing Vehicles Stopped At The Roadside

Editors: B-Roll of crashes and close calls with roadside assistance providers is available here.

Ahead of National Move Over Awareness Day on Oct. 19, The Automobile Club of Southern California, California Highway Patrol, and a survivor advocate are reminding drivers about California's Slow Down Move Over Law.

California's "Move Over" law requires all drivers to either move over a lane or, if that's not safe, slow down when they see amber flashing lights on Caltrans vehicles, law enforcement and emergency vehicles, and tow trucks.

On average, 24 emergency responders, including tow providers, are hit and killed every year. However, that number could be much higher. AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety researchers have found roadside assistance providers are killed nearly four times more often than what is reported. The discrepancy is due to a persistent failure of state police crash report forms to identify crash victims as roadside assistance providers.

Key findings involving emergency responder fatalities:

● 89% occurred at locations with speed limits of 55 miles per hour or higher, almost all of which were on interstates or other limited access highways

● 84% occurred in crashes with no indication of precipitation nor slippery road conditions

● 63% occurred during darkness, of which nearly two-thirds were at locations without lighting

● 63% occurred in crashes in which the striking vehicle left the road before striking the roadside assistance provider, the provider's vehicle, or the disabled vehicle (likely the result of impairment, fatigue, or distraction)

The AAA Foundation also surveyed tow workers, emergency responders, and road maintenance workers on their experiences with roadside jobs. Of those surveyed, 60% had experienced a near miss while working at the roadside, while an astonishing 15% had survived a passing vehicle hitting them.

"Surveys by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety also indicate that many people do not realize how risky it is to be along the side of the road close to fast-moving traffic," said Corporate Communications Manager Doug Shupe. "All drivers should remember that the people who come to our rescue on the side of the road, need space to do their work, and they also want to get home safely to their families at the end of the day."

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety research has found:

● 23% of drivers report not being aware of the Move Over law in their state and 30% do not completely understand the law

● 77% are aware of the law and most (91%) say they are comfortable complying with the law

● However, among people who do not comply with Move Over laws, 42% thought this behavior was only somewhat or not dangerous at all to roadside emergency workers

● Other reasons given by drivers who do not comply with the law include feeling that they don't have enough space to change lanes safely and that slowing down could cause a crash with another vehicle

All 50 states have Move-over or Slow-down laws. California's Slow Down Move Over law requires drivers to slow down or move over a lane when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle, tow truck, or Caltrans vehicle with flashing amber lights. The law applies to all vehicles on the highway, regardless of whether they are private or commercial.

On February 5, 2024, Andrew Hernandez from Bitetto Towing responded to a roadside emergency on the Riverside (91) Freeway in Yorba Linda during a storm. While he was assisting a stranded driver, another vehicle lost control and collided with his tow truck. At that moment, one of the AAA members was inside the truck as Andrew was loading their vehicle. Thankfully, due to Andrew's careful positioning, both he and the AAA member were unharmed.

This close call served as a stark reminder to Andrew of the dangers associated with his job. "I had to take a day to think about what could have happened and whether I wanted to continue this line of work," he reflected. "I realized that while I'm taking risks, I truly feel like a first responder. I'm here to help people, and I choose this profession because I want to serve my community."

To protect those working or stranded at the roadside, The Auto Club recommends drivers:

● Remain alert, avoid distractions, and focus on the task of driving.

● Keep an eye out for situations where emergency vehicles, tow trucks, utility service vehicles or disabled vehicles are stopped on the side of the road.

● When you see these situations, slow down and if possible, move one lane over and away from the people and vehicles stopped at the side of the road.

This Saturday, Oct. 19, is National Move Over Day, which is a day to remind the public about the importance of following Move Over or Slow Down laws.

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