First responders remind drivers to slow down, move over

Emergency roadside workers and first responders came together Wednesday in Columbia to remind drivers about the slow down, move over law ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Last year three people were killed and more than 70 were hurt in 246 crashes with parked emergency vehicles that had their emergency lights on in Missouri. Missouri law requires drivers on any road to move over one lane or slow down when coming up to an incident where crews are helping a driver who is stopped.

Boone County Fire Protection District Chief Scott Olsen said drivers need to pay attention while on any type of road.

“It doesn’t make a difference what road it is,” Olsen said. “I mean, it’s a road and we see accidents all the time on our county roads, on our state roads, on our interstate highways that are caused by distracted driving.”

According to the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, 71 people were killed last year in Missouri in crashes with distracted drivers.