Governor Little announces "Move Over Law Day"

BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Idaho State Police, the American Automobile Association (AAA), and Idaho Governor Brad Little joined forces on Friday, October 20 to declare October 21 “Move Over Law Day,” hoping to raise awareness about Idaho’s Slow Down and Move Over law.

The AAA discovered in a recent study on traffic safety that 23% of drivers are not aware of the Move Over law in their state, even though all 50 states have such a law on their books. For those who know of their States’ Move Over laws, AAA found that 30% of respondents did not know what the law meant.

It’s personal for organizations like AAA and the ISP, ISP Col. Kedrick Wills said.

“Just over a year ago we had one of our own troopers struck [on the road] and his life and the life of his family will forever be altered because he was out there doing the job to protect all of us,” Wills said.

Though it is important to slow down and move over for law enforcement, the AAA noted that it is equally important to do so for tow truck drivers and other roadside first responders.

“60% of that group had experienced a near miss on the roads,” AAA Public & Government Affairs Director Matthew Conde said. “15% of those people had already been struck at least once while working at the roadside.”

Wills explained that ISP recognizes that it may not always be possible to move over due to traffic conditions or obstructions. In those cases, should a driver encounter a roadside vehicle, ISP asked that drivers slow significantly to protect those working on the road.

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