Motorists being reminded to take precautions for roadside vehicles with a special proclamation from the Office of the Governor.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has signed and declared Sunday, October 15, 2023 as “Slow Down, Move Over” day across the state. This proclamation was a collaborative effort with AAA – The Auto Club Group to promote and strengthen roadside safety motorists within the existing “Slow Down, Move Over” law, Statute 61-6,378.
“This proclamation helps bring awareness that motorists can help those outside disabled vehicles stay safe by moving over and slowing down for every vehicle that is on the roadside,” explains Brian Ortner with AAA Nebraska.
Nebraska’s current law protects roadside workers and their vehicles including first responders, tow trucks, and utility vehicles, but does not yet cover municipal vehicles, road maintenance or disabled vehicles. Research shows that nearly 350 people are struck and killed every year while outside a disabled vehicle on the roadside in the United States from 2016-2020, In Nebraska an average of 8 people are killed.
This year, AAA is working to add Nebraska to the list of the 9 others states that now have comprehensive slow down move over laws. Those states amended or added to their current statutes in 2023. A change in Nebraska would be an amendment to current law. The AAA Move Over for Me campaign, launched in October 2022, is a way to remind drivers of the importance of paying attention, slowing down, and moving over when they see others at the side of the road working or stranded with a disabled vehicle.
For more information from AAA on how to protect roadside workers and stranded motorists, visit aaa.com