Texas’ Move Over or Slow Down laws: Here’s what to know
As is standard since local agencies instituted a wrecker rotation years back, emergency responders at the helm of an East Montgomery County fire engine this weekend used the large vehicle to block traffic so law enforcement could attend to a crash on Interstate 69 South in Splendora.
But while the initial wreck was under investigation, a motorist swiped the side of the truck, causing the truck to sustain heavy damage and rendering it out of service for repairs, according to the Montgomery County Police[1] Reporter. At the same scene, once the road was blocked farther in front of the damaged engine, one motorist went around the roadblock and nearly hit a patrol car. When the scene was nearly clear, another motorist drove by at such a high speed it caused a police SUV to rock in its wake, according to Scott Engle of the Police Reporter.
Engle called attention to the weekend crash — as well as to the death of a fireman from West, Texas, who had survived the town’s massive explosion a decade ago only to be killed earlier this year when an 18-wheeler ran into a crash site on which he’d been working — to highlight the dangers of drivers ignoring Texas’ Move Over or Slow Down laws[2].
And Montgomery isn’t the only county forced to deal with the issue.
Late last year, officials in Carrollton took the issue of drivers speeding through crash scenes into their own hands by purchasing a first-of-its-kind, 80,000-pound mobile barrier that can hold nearly 3,000 gallons of water and be deployed at crash sites to protect first responders, emergency vehicles and crash sites from drivers in speeding vehicles who either don’t know or don’t care about Texas’ Move Over or Slow Down law.
A Harris County deputy recently spoke with KHOU[3] about a driver rear-ending his vehicle at a crash site, despite the deputy blowing his vehicle’s horn the entire time, trying to get the driver to slow down.
Data released in 2021 by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety[4] revealed how many drivers either are not aware of the Move Over or Slow Down law, or who don’t consider it dangerous to speed past roadside emergency workers. All states have such laws and some 42 percent of AAA survey respondents said they thought ignoring the Move Over law “was somewhat or not dangerous at all to roadside emergency workers.” Another 23 percent said they weren’t aware of the law, while of those who did, 15 percent reported “not understanding the potential consequences for violating the law,” according to survey results listed by the foundation.
Texas’ Move Over or Slow Down law was expanded beyond its initial scope to include protections for roadside workers. A new bill also recently was filed in the Texas legislature[5], which would increase the penalties for speeding through a work zone or crash site.
Last week was National Work Zone Awareness Wee[6]k. According to TxDOT, fewer people were killed or injured in highway work zone crashes last year in Texas, and the majority of those killed were drivers or their passengers. Last year was the first time the number of fatalities decreased since 2018, according to TxDOT.
“Although it’s encouraging to see a reduction in the number of work zone crashes and fatalities last year, one life lost is too many,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams, according to a news release. “We’re calling on all Texas drivers to slow down and stay alert when traveling through work zones. Doing so could save a life, including your own.”
Move Over or Slow Down law
Texas’ Move Over or Slow Down Law was enacted to protect law enforcement, first responders and roadside construction and maintenance workers on Texas highways.
According to TxDOT, the law requires drivers to move over a lane or, when it is not possible to move, drivers must slow their vehicle to 20 mph below the posted speed limit.
The law applies to drivers approaching:
- Emergency vehicles
- Law enforcement vehicles
- Tow trucks
- Utility service vehicles
- TxDOT vehicles
- Highway construction or maintenance vehicles
The law also says drivers must reduce their speed to 5 mph if the posted speed limit is 25 mph or slower.
Move Over or Slow Down law penalties
According to TxDOT, failing to give emergency and work crews space or to slow down can result in a fine of as much as $200.
One of the drivers who sped past the Montgomery County crash scene Saturday was chased, pulled over and issued a citation, Engle said.
If there is a crash that causes injury, drivers can be fined as much as $2,000.
References
- ^ Montgomery County Police (montgomerycountypolicereporter.com)
- ^ Move Over or Slow Down laws (www.txdot.gov)
- ^ KHOU (www.khou.com)
- ^ AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (tx-aaa.iprsoftware.com)
- ^ bill also recently was filed in the Texas legislature (www.kwtx.com)
- ^ National Work Zone Awareness Wee (www.nwzaw.org)