If you have ever changed a flat on the shoulder or waited for a tow truck with traffic flying past, you know how exposed the roadside feels. For the technicians, police, firefighters, and highway workers who stand there all day, that risk never really goes away. AAA’s “Slow Down, Move Over” message is about one simple idea: give those people more space and less speed so everyone can get home alive.
Why “Slow Down, Move Over” Exists in the First Place
AAA data show that thousands of people are hit while standing outside disabled vehicles each year, and hundreds are killed, including tow operators and first responders. A national factsheet from AAA notes that roughly one roadside worker loses their life about every two weeks while helping someone on the shoulder. A campaign piece for the 2025 Slow Down, Move Over partnership points out that when pedestrian incidents are included, roadway deaths at the roadside exceed 700 every year.
AAA Slow down Move Over
All 50 states now have some form of Slow Down, Move Over law. These laws require drivers to either change lanes away from stopped emergency or service vehicles or, when that is not possible, to reduce speed significantly and pass with caution. The goal is basic but powerful: if vehicles are slower and farther away from people working on the roadside, crashes are less likely and less severe.
Who Is at Risk on the Roadside
When people hear “Move Over law,” they often think only of police cars and fire trucks. In reality, the danger is just as real for tow truck drivers, roadside assistance technicians, highway workers, and ordinary families stuck with a breakdown.
We see vehicles come into the shop after close calls where a mirror has been clipped or a cone has been wiped out, and it is clear how little margin our coworkers and tow partners sometimes have. A stalled car or service truck might be only a few feet from traffic moving at 65 mph or more, and a single distracted driver can turn a routine tire change into a life-threatening situation.
Why Awareness Is Still a Problem
Despite years of campaigns, surveys from the AAA Foundation show that roughly one in four drivers do not realize Slow Down, Move Over laws exist in their state or do not fully understand what is required. Many motorists think easing off the gas slightly is enough, or they only move over for police but not for tow trucks or disabled vehicles with hazards on.
As technicians, we know most drivers are not trying to be careless. Often, they are simply distracted, following traffic, or focused on getting where they are going. The “Slow Down, Move Over” message is a reminder to treat every stopped vehicle with people nearby as a red flag, not as background scenery.
Simple Ways Drivers Can Prevent Bad Things From Happening
AAA’s guidance can be boiled down into a few practical habits you can use every day:
- Stay alert and put distractions away before you ever get near the emergency scene.
- Watch ahead for flashing lights, hazard flashers, or vehicles on the shoulder so you have time to react smoothly.
- On multi-lane roads, signal early and move to the lane farthest from the stopped vehicle when it is safe.
- If you cannot change lanes, slow down well below the posted speed and be prepared for workers or pedestrians near the white line.
- In bad weather or at night, give even more space and treat any stranded vehicle like a work zone.
None of these steps takes much effort, but together they dramatically cut the chances of sideswipes and “close pass” crashes that put roadside workers in the hospital.
How the Message Protects You and Your Family Too
Slow down, move over is not only about professionals in reflective vests. The same driving habits protect you, your family, and your friends if you ever end up on the shoulder with a flat, a dead battery, or a minor collision. Research from AAA and other safety groups shows that hundreds of ordinary motorists and Good Samaritans are struck and killed each year while standing outside disabled vehicles.
If more drivers treat every roadside situation as worthy of a lane change and a real slowdown, those numbers fall for everyone, not just for tow operators. That is why we encourage customers to think of “Move Over” as a courtesy you are extending to your future self.
What to Do If You Break Down Near High-Speed Traffic
If your vehicle fails near a busy highway, your first priority is getting out of the live lane if you can do it safely. Once you are on the shoulder with hazards on, it is usually safer to stay inside the vehicle with seat belts fastened rather than standing close to traffic.
Call for help, give clear details about your location, and wait for professionals with the right equipment and lighting. When the roadside provider arrives, your job is simply to stay put, keep an eye on passing traffic, and let us work. The more drivers around you who are already following the Slow Down, Move Over message, the safer that whole situation becomes.
Get Slow Down, Move Over Safety Awareness in Easton, PA with Jeff’s Automotive, Inc
We care about the people who help stranded drivers and the families who share the road with them, and we support AAA’s call to slow down and move over for anyone stopped on the shoulder. We are always happy to talk through safe breakdown procedures and make sure your vehicle is road-trip ready so you are less likely to end up on the roadside in the first place.
Call Jeff’s Automotive, Inc in Easton, PA, to schedule service and help keep our local roads safer for every driver and roadside worker.