Slow Down/Move Over - Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Office

Slow Down/Move Over
Every time law enforcement
officers, firefighters, emergency
medical personnel, and tow truck
drivers stop to help motorists, they
put their own lives at risk. To
address the danger involved in
these roadside stops, every state
has enacted “Move Over” laws,
requiring motorists to change lanes
and/or slow down when
approaching stopped emergency
vehicles.

To help keep first responders safe, remember:
  1. Always remain alert. Avoid distractions and focus on driving.
  2. Watch for emergency vehicles, tow trucks, utility service vehicles
     or disabled vehicles stopped on the side of the road.
  3. When approaching an emergency vehicle with lights flashing on
     the side of a two-lane road, drivers should slow down to a speed
     that is safe and approach with caution.
  4. On multi-lane roads, slow down when you see the flashing lights
     of an emergency vehicle and, if possible, move over into an
     adjacent lane. If you are unable to switch lanes, slow to a safe
     and reasonable speed.

     AAA Kansas Helps Improve Roadside
                     Safety
       with Digital Flare Kit Donations

Moran Police Department Chief Shane Smith holds a digital road flare
light kit donated by AAA Kansas.

AAA Kansas, with support from the AAA Kansas Traffic Safety Fund, has
donated sets of digital road flare lights to about two dozen smaller
police departments and sheriff’s offices across the Sunflower State, to
help increase visibility and safety when officers work roadside
emergency incidents in dark conditions.

AAA Kansas presented 6-light sets of pi-lit® smart sequential road
flares to the following police departments and sheriff’s offices all
across Kansas.

Baldwin Police Dept.
Baxter Springs Police Dept.
Benton Police Dept.
Buhler Police Dept.
Clearwater Police Dept.
Decatur County Sheriff
Ellis County Sheriff
Harvey County Sheriff
Lyon County Sheriff
McLouth Police Dept.
Morris County Sheriff
Neodesha Police Dept.
Parsons Police Dept.

Rawlins County Sheriff
Seward County Sheriff
St. John Police Dept.
Thomas County Sheriff
Valley Falls Police Dept.
Wabaunsee County Sheriff
Wakefield Police Dept.
Wallace County Sheriff

“Many people, including law enforcement officers, road construction
crews and tow truck operators, such as our AAA emergency roadside
service technicians, are in put perilous situations while working their
daily jobs, often just feet away from passing traffic,” said Shawn
Steward, AAA Kansas spokesman. “In AAA Kansas’ ongoing
commitment to educating motorists about “Move Over” safety laws and
protecting roadside workers, it is our honor to donate these highly
visible flare kits to our Kansas law enforcement partners, to help them
return home safely to their families after nighttime duties along the
roadways.”

“The Rawlins County Sheriff's Office sends our thanks and appreciation
for the generous donation of the digital flare kits,” said Undersheriff
Catlyn Wahrman. ”The safety of our deputies is of the utmost
importance, along with the safety of our community. The flares have
already been used multiple times working accidents and helping
disabled motorists, after dark and in low-visibility conditions. With
small agencies like ours, budgets are always tight, and donations like
this allow us to use our limited funds for additional important items.
Thank you, AAA Kansas Traffic Safety Fund.”

“These lights are being kept and carried by the Sergeant on night
shift,” said Bo Jacobs, Sergeant, Seward County Sheriff’s Office. “They
are being utilized for accidents and are a great tool for our office.”

“Move Over” Laws
Move Over laws exist in all 50 states. AAA and other traffic safety
advocates have been instrumental in the passage of laws to better
protect tow truck drivers, road construction workers and other first
responders.

Kansas’ Move Over law requires drivers approaching a stationary
emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights, including towing and
recovery vehicles, traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane
closest if safe and possible to do so, or slow to a speed safe for road,
weather, and traffic conditions. In Kansas, the original law took effect
in 2000 to protect law enforcement officers. It has been expanded over
the years to to reduce risk to roadside construction crews, emergency
responders and tow operators and waste collection vehicles. It was
most recently broadened during the 2021 Kansas Legislative session to
include to utility and telecommunications crews.

If motorists are cited for violating this statute, they will face a $75 fine
plus, potentially, additional court costs.

Tragic Numbers
In Kansas designated road construction work zones alone – not even
including incidents involving law enforcement officers, tow truck drivers
and other roadside workers – the impact of vehicle crashes has been

significant and tragic. According to the Kansas Department of
Transportation, from 2010-2019, there were:
     15,925 work zone crashes
     5,126 injuries in those crashes
     65 people killed

What’s Being Done
Law enforcement agencies across Kansas and the nation regularly
enforce Move Over law violations. AAA and its traffic safety partners
will strengthen advocacy and community awareness throughout the
year, including highlighting “National Move Over Day” which happens
every third Saturday in October.

                More on Slow Down/Move Over

           What Can KTSRO Do For You?

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      KDOT Holds Regional Local Consult
                 Meetings
The Kansas Department of Transportation is hosting public Local
Consult meetings this fall as part of the Eisenhower Legacy
Transportation Program (IKE) project selection process. All Kansans are
invited to participate. Participants will have the opportunity to share
their community and region’s transportation priorities and provide input
on a list of potential highway expansion and modernization projects.
This year’s Local Consult meetings will take place virtually to comply
with current state guidance related to COVID-19. Participants can
attend the online regional meeting as well as a virtual on-demand
option.

Online live Zoom meetings - go to
https://www.ksdotike.org/projects/local-consult-process to
register for each regional meeting. Participate in live conversations
about regional transportation priorities and hear directly from KDOT
Secretary Julie Lorenz. The schedule for the remaining online regional
and metro meetings is:
     Kansas City metro – 9 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 30
     South central Kansas – 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 4
     Southwest Kansas – 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 5
     Northwest Kansas – 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 6

Virtual on-demand experience – Allows Kansans to review Local
Consult information and provide input on their own schedules. Visit
https://www.ksdotike.org/projects/local-consult-process for
more information about the schedule for these meetings.

Local Consult is a process that takes place every two years for KDOT to
listen to regional needs from the perspective of Kansans who live and
work in each of the six districts and two metropolitan areas. The

regional discussions will be influenced by the 1,900 Kansans who
participated in a survey earlier this summer to share their top
transportation interests and concerns.

            More About the Local Consult Process

        Become a Child Passenger Safety
                  Technician
75% of car seats are installed incorrectly, so to help parents and
caregivers ensure children are as safe as possible in vehicles, KTSRO
hosts Child Passenger Safety Courses throughout the year, in various
locations around Kansas.

The course is 3-4 days and, upon its completion, will certify successful
participants as a National Child Passenger Safety Technician through
Safe Kids Worldwide for 2 years. KTSRO also provides yearly
opportunities for recertification.

Course fee is $95. For more information on becoming a Certified Child
Passenger Safety Technician, visit cert.safekids.org

                      Upcoming Classes:

                   October 12-14, 2021
             Leavenworth County Sheriff's Office
                     Leavenworth, KS

              September 28-October 1, 2021
          Johnson County KS Sheriff's Department
                    New Century, KS

                    November 1-3, 2021
                  Manhattan Fire Department

Manhattan, KS

                   February 22-24, 2022
                  Regional Training Center
                        Wichita, KS

                    March 15-17, 2022
              Franklin County Sheriff's Office
                        Ottawa, KS

                     May 3-5, 2022
              Kansas National Guard Armory
                      Goodland, KS

 Register for a Child Passenger Safety Technician Class Here

 Upcoming Transportation Safety Events

Put The Brakes on                Teen Driver Safety
Fatalities Day                   Week October 17-23
October 10

     Images of Traffic Safety in Kansas
 Child Passenger Safety Technician certification class pictures

Buhler

Topeka

Caldwell Police Department presenting Booster to Belts

National Child Passenger Safety Week Media Event in Topeka

Attending the Governors Highway Safety Association
                        Conference

National Child Passenger Safety Week Car Seat Check Lane in
                          Topeka

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