A vehicle breakdown on a busy highway was a harrowing experience. As traffic sped past at 70-plus miles per hour. I worried not only by my own safety, but that of the responding tow truck driver.
Reducing the danger during those types of incidents is the focus of Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week, being observed Monday through Friday.
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and Missouri Highway Patrol are partnering with the Federal Highway Administration for the first national observance of what is intended as an annual message for motorists to move over for any emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights.
Emergency responders include fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, towing and transportation agencies.
The observance reminds motorist to observe Missouri's Move Over law, which requires drivers to change lanes when approaching MoDOT vehicles, law enforcement vehicles and any other emergency vehicle with lights flashing. If drivers can't change lanes safely, they must slow down as they pass the emergency vehicles.
The dangerous situations are frequent. MoDOT reports its emergency crews respond to 5,500 traffic incidents in an average month.
And those episodes can be deadly. In the past 10 years, roadside incident have killed three MoDOT emergency response employees and three patrol troopers, and are responsible for a number of serious injuries
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics show police-reported traffic crashes increased by 3.8 percent from 2014-15. In addition traffic incident fatalities - the primary cause of death for police officers and EMS responders nationwide - have increased 7.2 percent, the largest percentage increase in nearly 50 years.
"Every day, first responders spend countless hours along the side of Missouri's busiest highways," said Col. J. Bret Johnson, patrol superintendent. "Whether writing a ticket, investigating a crash, or helping a stranded motorist, they are dangerously close to passing traffic. Move over, and give them some room. Remember their safety is in your hands."
Emergency responders are on roadsides to address and remove dangerous conditions. It's up to us, as motorists, not to compound and worsen the situation.
Heed the flashing lights, respect law and move over.
- RFM