Beshear proclaims Nov. 18-22 as Crash Responder Safety Week

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Gov. Andy Beshear is proclaiming Nov. 18-22 as Crash Responder Safety Week in Kentucky.

The week is meant to bring awareness to protect those who respond to emergencies.

“Emergency responders and public safety personnel statewide put their lives on the line daily to help Kentuckians and travelers on our roads,” Beshear said. “By slowing down and moving over when they’re working, we can do our part to keep these roadside heroes safe too.”

Recently, Kentucky’s “Slow Down, Move Over” law expanded to protect a wider range of roadside responder and citizens. According to the governor’s office, this includes moving over a lane or reducing speed when approaching any stationary vehicle with flashing lights or warning signals, including emergency, towing and disabled vehicles.

“Moving over isn’t just a courtesy – it’s the law,” Kentucky Transportation Cabinet secretary Jim Gray said. “Stay vigilant, reduce your speed and make room to keep everyone safe.”

The law aims to make the road a safer place for first responders, highway crews and drivers.

“Our first responders perform heroic work, often with vehicles rushing by at alarming speeds,” Gray said. “The least we can do is support them by slowing down and staying alert behind the wheel.”

Over the past three years alone, the governor’s office says crashes involving emergency vehicles responding to an incident in Kentucky resulted in over 1,000 collisions, over 380 injuries and seven deaths.

At this time, the release says all 50 states have enacted “Move Over” laws.

In addition, free National Traffic Incident Management Responder training is available to first responders from the Federal Highway Administration.