The Texas Move Over/Slow Down Law was passed in 2003, but there are still many drivers who do not abide by it. This law is in place to help protect public servants along the roadsides. Our crew at Pantusa Towing has personally witnessed accident situations becoming even worse because of people not moving over. A simple lane change saves lives. If you are unsure about the details of the law, explore the basics below:
The Gist of the Texas Move Over/Slow Down Law:
What You Should Do: Move over a lane to avoid an incident on the side of the road involving law enforcement, emergency services, and utility vehicles. When moving over is either impractical or not possible, you should reduce your speed to 20 below the posted speed limit.
In the beginning, the law only specifically mandated moving over when an emergency vehicle with warning lights on was parked on the shoulder. Since then there have been multiple revisions to protect other important workmen along the road, including TXDOT vehicles as of 2013 and utility vehicles such as GVEC line crews since 2019.
Why You Should Do it: Servants of the community should not be injured or killed while trying to help motorists or fix utilities. Traffic crashes remain a leading cause of death for police officers despite this rule being in place. Moving over a lane is the least we can do to protect our roadside heroes and express our gratitude.
Beyond the risk of hurting others, you could face a fine for your first offense. There are even stricter punishments for repeating offenders.
Moving over for emergency services, law enforcement, and utility services on the shoulder is not optional. If there is any vehicle on the roadside, moving over is a courteous choice. If you were changing a tire or broken down on the side of the road, you would appreciate your fellow motorists giving you more space as well. We should all be responsible drivers for the safety of all. One small lane change can save many lives.
If you are stuck on the side of the road, call Pantusa Towing for a quick response. We are standing by to help you 24/7 with your roadside emergency!