“Slow Down, Move Over" laws are a topic Car Pro Show host Jerry Reynolds is very passionate about. These laws are designed to protect first responders and others like tow truck operators who are helping motorists on the roadside. It's a subject that's very personal to Reynolds - and not just because has was once a police officer himself.
"I wrote about a police officer friend of mine who was killed while on the side of the freeway near my home, " said Car Pro Show host Jerry Reynolds. "As he reached for his ticket book from his motorcycle, he was struck by a van and killed."
You can read his story about Garland Police Officer Ronnie Lerma here →
"Besides saving lives, possibly including your own, moving over and/or slowing down, it is the law," said Reynolds. "I am amazed more people do not realize this, but the fact is, all 50 states have a law that says you must move away from the emergency vehicle, or slow way down."
Confusion about “Slow Down, Move Over" laws is a big issue according to a new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAAFTS). It found that most drivers aren't aware of or don't understand the laws, leaving responders at continued risk. Researchers say inconsistent enforcement is another issue.
AAAFTS says according to the Emergency Responder Safety Institute, last year 46 emergency responders never made it home: 26 were law enforcement officers, 12 tow truck operators, 4 Department of Transportation safety service patrol workers, 3 fire/EMS personnel, and 1 road service technician.
“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.”
“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,” said Dr. David Yang, President and Executive Director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
Credit: NHTSA.
While every state and the District of Columbia has a “Slow Down, Move Over” law, researchers say many drivers don’t fully understand what those laws require. In a forthcoming AAAFTS national survey, two-thirds of drivers said they’ve heard of SDMO laws, but many couldn’t say whether their state has one or what the law entails. AAAFTS says drivers are far less likely to move over or slow down for tow trucks or stranded vehicles than for police, revealing a widespread misconception about who the laws protect.
Here's what researchers found when they reviewed real-world footage of drivers passing roadside incidents.
- Only 64% of vehicles either slowed down or moved over.
- The remaining 36% did neither.
Changing lanes was far more common than reducing speed, which researchers say suggests that many drivers are missing half the law’s intent.
AAAFTS says its research reveals several troubling trends:
- Tow truck operators face the greatest risk. Only 58% of drivers witnessed in surveillance footage slowed down or moved over when a tow truck was stopped at the roadside, compared to 66% who slowed down or moved over for police vehicles.
- Intentions don’t match actions. Most drivers say they comply with SDMO laws, but roadside video shows otherwise—especially when it comes to reducing speed.
- Weak enforcement reduces deterrence. Drivers perceive little risk of being ticketed, and penalties vary widely—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.”
AAAFTS says it is encouraging policymakers, enforcement agencies, and safety partners to strengthen and align their approaches to “Slow Down, Move Over” laws—making them clearer, more consistent, and easier for drivers to follow.
AAAFTS says its recommendations include:
- Clarify and align SDMO laws across states, including a consistent definition of what it means to “slow down.”
- Raise public awareness through emotionally compelling, visually clear campaigns that humanize the impact of noncompliance and showcase all vehicles covered by the laws.
- Increase enforcement visibility with coordinated, high-visibility efforts and education-first use of emerging technologies like dashcams and automated enforcement systems.
AAA says it is partnering with companies like HAAS Alert, to provide advance notice to drivers about an incident at the roadside and remind them to slow down and move over.
Photo: NHTSA.