Virginia first responders at risk due to confusion over ‘Move Over’ law: AAA

Oct 28, 2025 - 19:25

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Virginia first responders at risk due to confusion over ‘Move Over’ law: AAA

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia first responders are still at risk for injury on highways due to confusion about "Slow Down, Move Over" law, per a new study by the American Automobile Association (AAA).

Under "Slow Down, Move Over" (SDMO) law, drivers must either move over or slow down for emergency vehicles stopped on the road. It was created to protect law enforcement and first responders after several reported injuries and deaths were reported due to speeding cars on the interstate past the vehicles.

"Last year [2024], 46 emergency responders never made it home, according to the Emergency Responder Safety Institute," AAA said. "They were police officers, firefighters, EMTs and tow truck operators — struck while assisting others on the roadside."

However, since the implementation of the law, the study from AAA Traffic Safety found that drivers are confused about the law, leaving first responders at continued risk.

"Every responder working on the roadside deserves to make it home safely,” said AAA Director of Traffic Safety Advocacy and Research Jake Nelson.

Specifically, per AAA's study, most drivers don't fully understand what the law requires. Two-thirds of drivers said they’ve heard of SDMO laws, but many couldn’t say whether or not their state has one, or what the law entails.

Notably, in Virginia, SDMO law was previously expanded to include all stopped vehicles that have their hazards lights on, are displaying road flares or have other visible warning signs.

"Drivers are far less likely to move over or slow down for tow trucks or stranded vehicles than for police, revealing a widespread misconception about who the laws protect," AAA said.

AAA reviewed footage of drivers passing by roadside incidents and found that only 64% of drivers either slowed down or moved over, saying that changing lanes was done more frequently instead of reducing speed, "suggesting that many drivers are missing half the law’s intent."

"Slow Down, Move Over laws exist to protect roadside heroes, first responders and the stranded motorists who they serve," said president and executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety David Yang. "However, as these statistics demonstrate, drivers do not always follow the law, all too often resulting in preventable tragedies."

Tow truck drivers are at the highest risk, with only 58% of drivers slowing down or moving over when a tow truck is stopped roadside.

Further, enforcement varies a lot across states. While being ticketed for violating SDMO laws in Florida results in a $30 fine, it'll run you $2,500 in Virginia, per AAA.

"We need clear, consistent laws, visible enforcement and education that resonates with drivers," Nelson said. "When everyone understands what ‘slow down, move over’ really means, we can make our roads safer for those who protect us every day."

On its website, AAA said that it is urging policymakers to strengthen their approaches to SDMO laws, asking them to make them "clearer, more consistent, and easier for drivers to follow."

AAA's recommendations for SDMO laws are as follows:

To clarify and align SDMO laws across states, including a consistent definition of what it means to “slow down.”
To raise public awareness through emotionally compelling, visually clear campaigns that humanize the impact of noncompliance and showcase all vehicles covered by the laws.
To increase enforcement visibility with coordinated, high-visibility efforts and education-first use of emerging technologies like dashcams and automated enforcement systems.

For more information on this study and other travel data, head over to AAA's website.