A new law expanding New York’s Slow Down/Move Over requirement took effect on March 27. The expansion includes disabled vehicles on the roadside requiring drivers to exercise caution when approaching them in an effort to protect motorists.
All 50 states have a form of the Slow Down/Move Over law that requires drivers to slow down and change lanes, if safely possible, when they encounter a vehicle with flashing lights stopped at the roadside. New York’s law has existed since 2010 – it is expanding to cover disabled vehicles along with police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, tow trucks and road construction/maintenance vehicles. This expanded law is now in effect in 22 states.
With the expanded law now in effect, Tony Spada, President and CEO of AAA Western and Central New York, cites new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, which shows that 84% of roadside crashes occur in good weather without precipitation or slippery road conditions. “Many of these crashes can be avoided if drivers focus on driving and observe the law by slowing down and moving over when they see a disabled vehicle or any roadside activity for that matter,” he said. “AAA reminds drivers to give space to anyone on the roadside. It’s imperative to save innocent lives.”
The legislation was sponsored by State Senator Lea Webb and Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski and “requires an operator of a motor vehicle to exercise due care to avoid colliding with a vehicle which is parked, stopped, or standing on the shoulder of a parkway or controlled-access highway.”
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