Ahead of 'National Move Over Day,' the Ohio Department of Transportation is urging drivers to move over and slow down to keep the state's road workers, emergency responders, law enforcement officials, and other traffic workers safe on the job.

According to a release from ODOT, 51 US traffic incident management responders were killed in roadside collisions in 2022. Further, every six days, a towing technician loses their life on American roadways.

In work zones, the issue is even worse. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, 106,000 work zone crashes happened in 2021, injuring 42,000 and 956 fatalities.

Ohio State Highway Patrol says they've issued nearly 27,000 citations since 2018 to drivers who did not move over or slow down for stationary vehicles with flashing lights, which includes ODOT vehicles, fire and EMT responders, tow trucks, and police officers. 

In that time period, OSP says 61 of their patrol cars have been struck by drivers who failed to slow down or move over, resulting in the deaths of two civilians and the injury of 56 people.

The "Move Over" laws exist in all 50 states. In Ohio, drivers are required to move over and slow down for any stationary vehicle with flashing lights on the side of the road. The law applies to vehicles with flashing lights of any color, including law enforcement officers, emergency responders, road construction, maintenance vehicles, utility crews, and tow trucks.

To protect roadside workers, AAA, ODOT, and OSHP remind motorists to drop the distractions and focus on the task of driving. Additionally, keep an eye out for situations where emergency vehicles, tow trucks, utility service vehicles or disabled vehicles are stopped on the side of the road. And remember to always move over, slow down and pay attention for every flashing light, every time. It just may save a life.