National Move Over Day is This Saturday; AAA Reminds Drivers to Protect Roadside Workers

TYSONS CORNER, VA (October 16, 2025) – Those who work on our roadside, including law enforcement officers, first responders, construction crews, utility workers, sanitation workers, and tow truck operators, risk their lives daily while working just feet away from fast-moving traffic. National Move Over Day occurs on the 3rd Saturday of October every year and is dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers roadside workers face, while educating drivers about Move Over Laws, which require drivers to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles and tow trucks stopped on the side of the road.

In recognition of National Move Over Day, this Saturday, October 18th and as days become shorter, AAA is reminding drivers of the importance of following Slow Down, Move Over laws.

The Urgency Behind the Message

The statistics are sobering:

• According to the Emergency Responder Safety Institute, 19 traffic incident management responders were killed due to roadside collisions across the United States this year.
• A towing technician loses his or her life every six days on America's roadways, according to the Towing & Recovery Association of America.

“This is why we’re urging drivers to slow down, move over, and stay alert,” said Tom Wiedemann, CEO of AAA Club Alliance. “Our emergency roadside service providers are committed to rescuing stranded motorists. We need all drivers to be equally committed to protecting them.”

A AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study last year revealed a disturbing picture of the dangers faced by those working on the side of the road, and the numbers may be getting worse.

Researchers combed through diverse information sources and uncovered 123 roadside assistance providers killed by passing vehicles between 2015 and 2021 - nearly four times more than reported.

This grim figure dwarfs the approximate 34 noted in national crash data. The discrepancy is due to a persistent failure of state crash report forms to capture that crash victims were roadside assistance providers and were instead often recorded as “pedestrians.” While yearly total traffic fatalities increased significantly over the study period, the data suggest that roadside assistance provider fatalities increased even more.

“Working on the roadside is challenging even on the best of days,” said Shomari Woodhouse, AAA’s Baltimore Fleet Manager. “Drivers who slow down and move over give us the space to be safe while we’re doing our job.”

‘Move Over’ Laws

Move Over laws exist in all 50 states. Despite the nationwide presence of Move Over laws, data from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that among drivers who do not comply with Move Over laws at all times:

• 42% thought this behavior was somewhat or not dangerous at all to roadside emergency workers. This demonstrates that drivers may not realize how risky it is for those working or stranded along highways and roads closed to moving traffic.
• Nearly a quarter of those surveyed (23%) are unaware of the Move Over law in the state where they live.

Laws in both Maryland and Virginia require drivers to slow down and when possible, move over a lane, away from first responders, tow truck drivers, and/or disabled vehicles at the roadside, displaying hazard lights/emergency flashers.

Those who do not abide by the law in Maryland are subject to a fine between $110 and $750. In Virginia, the driver could be charged with a traffic infraction, which carries a fine of up to $250. Drivers who fail to move over or proceed with caution when passing emergency vehicles, with their emergency lights activated, could be charged with reckless driving which carries a punishment of up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.

AAA Safety Recommendations for Drivers

• Remain alert, limit 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 people and vehicles stopped at the side of the road.

Did you Know?…Today is Do Not Disturb While Driving Day which serves as a reminder to drivers to set up the Do Not Disturb mode on their phones so that calls, texts and other notifications are silenced while they’re behind the wheel.

“As driving is a shared responsibility, we all play a role in keeping roadside workers safe,” said Ragina Ali, Manager of Public and Government Affairs Manager for AAA in Maryland and Washington, DC. “By paying attention, slowing down, and moving over, we reduce the risk for those working just feet from traffic.”