SafetyOctober 31, 2025

Highway Breakdown Safety: The Move-Over Law and Real Risks

Highway shoulder fatalities are documented annually. Most are preventable with proper procedure.

5 min read

Highway shoulders are dangerous. Drivers struck by passing vehicles while waiting for help is a documented annual fatality category in transportation statistics.

All US states have move-over laws requiring drivers to change lanes or slow down when passing emergency or service vehicles on the shoulder. Compliance is poor.

Behavior that increases risk: standing next to your vehicle on the traffic side, walking along the shoulder, working under the vehicle on the shoulder.

Behavior that decreases risk: staying inside the vehicle if shoulder is narrow, exiting on the non-traffic side, walking 20+ feet from the road, deploying triangles or flares behind the vehicle to warn approaching traffic.

If a service vehicle is on scene with you, position yourself on the opposite side of the service vehicle from traffic — let the service truck shield you.

Quick Tips

  • Stay inside the vehicle on narrow shoulders
  • Exit on the non-traffic side, walk 20+ feet from the road
  • Don't work under your vehicle on the shoulder
  • Deploy warning triangles or flares behind the vehicle
  • Position behind the service truck when it arrives

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