Crash Responder Safety Week: AAA reminds drivers to 'Slow Down, Move Over'

Submitted by AAA of Western and Central New York

Crash Responder Safety Week is being recognized Nov. 17-21, 2025. This is the 10th year that federal, state and local agencies have come together for CRSW. This year’s theme is "Safety Starts With You – Slow Down and Move Over!"

AAA Western and Central New York reminds drivers to help protect workers and emergency personnel along roadways by following the “Slow Down, Move Over” law. Last year, 46 emergency responders never made it home, according to the Emergency Responder Safety Institute. They were police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and tow truck operators – struck while assisting others on the roadside.

Originally known as National Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week, Crash Responder Safety Week is a time to educate drivers and prepare them to react properly when encountering emergency scenes, including slowing down and moving over with a goal of keeping drivers and passengers safe, reducing secondary crashes, and saving lives.

“Every minute of every day, traffic incident responders work on the roadside in an effort to help others,” said Elizabeth Carey, director of public relations at AAA Western and Central New York. “The roadside is their workspace, and AAA is asking all drivers to be considerate of it. Crash Responder Safety Week is an ideal time for drivers to commit to traffic safety, which can start with slowing down and moving over for disabled vehicles, which is the law in New York.”

While every state has a “Slow Down, Move Over” law, many drivers don’t fully understand what those laws require. Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAA FTS) finds that two-thirds of drivers say they’ve heard of these laws, but many couldn’t say whether their state has one or what the law entails. Drivers are far less likely to move over or slow down for tow trucks or stranded vehicles than for police, revealing a widespread misconception about who the laws protect.

The AAA FTS research reveals several troubling trends:

•Tow truck operators face the greatest risk. Only 58% of drivers witnessed in surveillance footage slowed down or moved over when a tow truck was stopped at the roadside, compared to 66% who slowed down or moved over for police vehicles.

•Intentions don’t match actions. Most drivers say they comply with “Slow Down, Move Over” laws, but roadside video shows otherwise – especially when it comes to reducing speed.

•Weak enforcement reduces deterrence. Drivers perceive little risk of being ticketed, and penalties vary widely – from $30 in Florida to $2,500 in Virginia.

During this Crash Responder Safety Week – and every week – drivers can protect those who protect others on the roadways. AAA reminds drivers to be alert; watch the road; approach roadside incidents with caution; slow down; and when it’s safe, move over to give emergency vehicles additional space. Learn more at www.AAA.com/SDMO.

As upstate New York’s largest member services organization, AAA Western and Central New York provides more than 866,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1900, AAA WCNY has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Visit AAA at www.AAA.com.