WEDNESDAY EDIT: Slowing down, moving over keeps law officers, drivers safer

Slow down. Move over.

Simple requests.

Surprisingly, it often doesn't happen. Many drivers don't follow this law in Idaho and across the country, which can put law enforcement officers in jeopardy. It's routine to see a driver being pulled over by the Idaho State Police, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office or police officers for various infractions, such as speeding, failure to signal or a broken headlight. 

When that happens, drivers going the same direction are supposed to slow down and move to the next lane to keep the officer and the civilian behind the wheel safe. A driver might not be able to move over if, for instance, traffic is heavy or a semi is in that lane. But in most cases, when a driver sees an emergency rig with lights flashing on the shoulder of the road, they have time and space to change lanes.

In general, we like to think drivers are respectful and follow the law, but some keep going. They may not know it's the law, which is why we want to highlight it here. One KCSO deputy recently told a member of The Press that, when they pulled over drivers, drivers weren't great about moving over.

It needs to happen.

“It’s a small gesture with big consequences. Instead of traveling at high speed within inches of an emergency worker, drivers who slow down and move over help prevent serious injuries – or worse,” says AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde. “These people do so much to protect us at the roadside, and we owe it to them to return the favor.”

According to AAA, in recent years, an emergency road worker has been struck and killed on a roadway every two weeks. While there have been fewer technician deaths so far this year, continued emphasis on the law can reduce fatalities even more.

Previous research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found substantial gaps in driver understanding of “Slow Down, Move Over” laws. Only 66% of drivers understood that their state’s law requires special action when passing a stopped police vehicle, and just 58% understood that it applies to tow trucks — even though every state’s law covers both.

Among drivers who knew a law applied, more than 90% recognized the need to move over, but fewer than half knew they also had to slow down. Separate AAA analysis of real-world traffic found that 64% of drivers slowed down or moved over when passing roadside incidents, while 36% did neither.

“We continue to invest in cameras, variable message signs, routing enhancements that alert other drivers to the presence of emergency workers, and more,” Conde said. “But until we invent some kind of space-age force field, we’ll need to keep relying on drivers to do the right thing."

For the safety of law officers, tow truck drivers and anyone in a vehicle on the side of the road, let's slow down and move over.

It's that easy.