AAA study finds confusion about ‘Slow Down, Move Over’ laws continues to put roadside responders at risk

Despite two decades of public awareness campaigns, emergency responders across the country continue to face serious danger on the roadside, according to a new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAAFTS).

Last year, 46 emergency responders — including police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and tow truck operators — were killed while assisting others on the road, the Emergency Responder Safety Institute reported. AAA officials say that while “Slow Down, Move Over” (SDMO) laws exist in every state and the District of Columbia, many drivers remain unclear about what those laws actually require.

“For more than 20 years, AAA has championed ‘Slow Down, Move Over’ laws in every state, yet we are still losing far too many roadside heroes in the line of duty,” said Gene Boehm, president and CEO of AAA National. “It’s clear that awareness alone isn’t enough. Drivers need to understand what these laws require and why they matter.”

Dr. David Yang, president and executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, said many of the deaths are preventable. “Slow Down, Move Over laws exist to protect roadside heroes, first responders, and the stranded motorists who they serve. However, as these statistics demonstrate, drivers do not always follow the law, all too often resulting in preventable tragedies,” he said.

A forthcoming AAAFTS national survey found that two-thirds of drivers had heard of SDMO laws, but many couldn’t identify whether their state had one or describe what it entailed. Researchers also discovered that motorists are less likely to slow down or move over for tow trucks or stranded vehicles than for police, exposing a misunderstanding of who the laws are designed to protect.

Video analysis of real-world driving behavior revealed that just 64% of vehicles slowed down or changed lanes near roadside incidents. The remaining 36% did neither, and drivers were far more likely to move over than reduce speed — indicating that many miss half of what the law requires.

Tow truck operators were found to be at the highest risk, with only 58% of drivers slowing down or moving over when passing a tow truck, compared with 66% who did so for police vehicles. Weak enforcement and inconsistent penalties further reduce compliance, with fines ranging from $30 in Florida to $2,500 in Virginia.

“Every responder working on the roadside deserves to make it home safely,” said AAA Director of Traffic Safety Advocacy and Research Jake Nelson. “We need clear, consistent laws, visible enforcement, and education that resonates with drivers. When everyone understands what ‘slow down, move over’ really means, we can make our roads safer for those who protect us every day.”

AAA is urging policymakers, law enforcement, and safety advocates to strengthen and standardize SDMO laws nationwide. Recommendations include clarifying what constitutes “slowing down,” raising public awareness through emotionally compelling campaigns, and increasing enforcement visibility — including the use of new technologies such as dashcams and automated systems.

In addition, AAA continues to advance safety for roadside responders through partnerships with companies like HAAS Alert, which provides drivers with advance warnings of roadside incidents to encourage them to slow down and move over.