7 States Making Updates to Their 'Slow Down, Move Over' Laws

In 1996, South Carolina made history by enacting the nation’s first Move Over law — a critical step toward protecting tow operators and roadside workers. By 2012, all 50 states had adopted similar laws, saving hundreds of lives each year. Now, seven states are taking steps to further strengthen these laws. Let’s explore these updates and how they could impact your state — or the one next to you. 

Arizona  

Currently, Arizona drivers must move over one lane, or slow down if changing lanes isn't possible, when approaching and passing any vehicle on the side of the road with flashing lights. This includes emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and maintenance vehicles.  

Right now, SB1059 is awaiting a final Senate floor vote. If passed, the state of Arizona will review the success of “Slow Down, Move Over” and determine if amendments, additional promotion, or education are needed to improve the law's effectiveness.  

California 

California law states that drivers must change to an adjacent lane or slow down when approaching stationary California Department of Transportation vehicles with flashing lights.  

Bill #390 is under review and would extend California’s Move Over laws to include all highway maintenance vehicles and any other stationary vehicle with flashing hazard lights or another warning device (cones, flares, etc.).  

Kansas

The Kansas Senate recently passed SB 8 to include any stopped, standing, or parked vehicle displaying hazard lights, flares, traffic cones, reflective triangles or other caution signals in its Move Over law.  

Before this amendment, Kansas drivers were required to slow down or move over when approaching stationary law enforcement, emergency, and utility vehicles with flashing lights.  

Massachusetts

Current Massachusetts law directs drivers to change lanes or slow down when passing stationary emergency, maintenance, or recovery vehicles with flashing lights on highways.  

The California House of Representative submitted Bill S.2352 to a joint hearing, which proposes including utility and disabled vehicles (non-emergency vehicles on the shoulder or breakdown lane of a roadway or highway) to the list of protected vehicles.  

New Hampshire 

New Hampshire recently passed SB273, adding stopped vehicles displaying hazard lights or other warning signals, like flares or traffic cones, to the Move Over law. 

Previously, drivers were required to slow down or move over for emergency response vehicles displaying red, blue, or amber lights, or if a lane was partially or wholly blocked.  

New Jersey 

In 2024, New Jersey amended its Move Over law to include any stationary vehicle with flashing hazard lights, road flares, or reflective triangles.  

The General Assembly is now in session, and Bill A4813 is awaiting its second reading, which would require drivers to follow Move Over laws for any stationary vehicle, regardless of whether the vehicle utilizes flashing hazard lights or other warning devices.  

Ohio 

Ohio’s Senate Transportation Committee is looking to expand its current Move Over laws to include any stationary vehicle in “distress.”  

SB16 states that “a vehicle is in distress when the operator indicates the condition through lit fuse, flares, red lights, red reflectors, red flags, emergency signs or flashing emergency/hazard lights.”  

As roadside safety standards advance, these Move Over law expansions demonstrate that more states are recognizing the dangers drivers face daily when working or stopping along our highways. To learn more about your state's law or recent updates, visit your state government's official website.