Dangers of assisting stranded motorists on roadsides have resulted in a number of tragic deaths recently.
Most notably, in Montgomery County, a New Jersey woman faces third-degree murder and homicide-by-vehicle charges in the death of Lower Merion firefighter Thomas Royds.
Jacquelyn Walker, 63, of Little Egg Harbor, N.J., is accused of plowing her vehicle into emergency responders, causing the death of Royds and injuring three others who were investigating a crash on Interstate 76 in Lower Merion.
The tragedy coincides with newly released AAA research showing drivers may not fully grasp the danger they pose to roadside workers.
On average, across the U.S., every other week a first responder is killed while working at the roadside, according to AAA.
A tow driver in Ohio was killed on July 4 while placing a disabled vehicle on the back of a flatbed on the side of the road. Only three weeks later, a AAA driver in Colorado was also struck and killed. As of August, 14 tow providers had lost their lives this year while helping others at the roadside.
An average of 24 emergency responders, including tow providers, are struck and killed by vehicles while working at the roadside each year.
To protect our first responders, AAA and other traffic safety advocates have led the way in getting Move Over laws passed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to a statement from AAA Mid-Atlantic.
Yet, according to the statement, startling new data from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that among drivers who do not comply with Move Over laws at all times:
- 42% thought this behavior was somewhat or not dangerous at all to roadside emergency workers. This demonstrates that drivers may not realize how risky it is for those working or stranded along highways and roads closed to moving traffic.
- Nearly a quarter of those surveyed (23%) are unaware of the Move Over law.
- Among those who are aware of their state’s Move Over laws, about 15% report not understanding the potential consequences for violating the Move Over law at all.
- A new AAA poll of Pennsylvania drivers showed a similar lack of understanding or awareness around the state’s Move Over law even though 98% of Pennsylvania drivers responded that it is “very dangerous” or “somewhat dangerous” for roadside workers if motorists do not comply with the Move Over law. And 92% of Pennsylvania motorists said they would support such a measure.
Pennsylvania law requires all drivers to reduce speed and move over one lane if safe to do so when approaching any emergency vehicle, tow truck, municipal vehicle or road maintenance vehicle with flashing lights or any disabled motorist traveling slowly or stopped along the shoulder or breakdown lane.
It’s not just tow providers and other emergency responders being killed on the side of the road. Since 2015, over 1,600 people have been struck and killed while outside of a disabled vehicle and some states, including Pennsylvania, have extended Move Over protections to include everyone at the roadside, according to AAA.
“This is not just about the law. This is about drivers paying attention and looking out for others because it is literally a matter of life and death,” said Jana Tidwell, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Don’t just slow down to look. Slow down and move over.”
The reality is that drivers are increasingly distracted while driving. Previous AAA Foundation research has found that drivers are up to four times as likely to crash if they are talking on a cellphone while driving and up to eight times as likely to be in a crash if texting.
We can all do our part when driving to avoid these tragedies. Avoid distractions when driving, and be on the lookout for disabled vehicles and first responders.
Slow down. Move over. Save a life. It’s not that difficult, and the alternative is devastating.
Source: Berkshire mont
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