A new survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (FTS) reveals a dangerous gap between driver awareness and roadside behavior.

Though more than 90% of drivers reported moving over and/or slowing down the last time they passed a disabled vehicle, tow truck, or police car on the shoulder, previous AAA FTS research found that only 64% of vehicles subject to Slow Down, Move Over laws were observed changing lanes and/or reducing speed; 36% did neither.

In 2025, AAA responded to more than 30 million roadside events near active traffic, and 15 service providers were killed in Slow Down, Move Over-related incidents.

The danger is compounded by risky driving behaviors: six of those cases involved hit-and-run drivers, and five involved impaired drivers, the roadside safety agency reported.

“Every roadside stop is a danger zone,” said Gene Boehm, president and CEO of AAA. “The simple decision to slow down and move over saves lives. We all have a responsibility to keep Roadside Heroes safe as they rescue people.”

When Slow Down, Move Over laws were explained, 90% of drivers supported them, and only 2% opposed them.

The survey also found that only 66% of drivers believed their state law required special action near a stopped police car.

“Many drivers know slowing down or moving over is the right thing to do,” said Dr. David Yang, president and executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “But awareness is not enough. When drivers encounter a vehicle stopped along the roadside, they need to respond right away — because failing to slow down or move over can turn a standard stop into a preventable tragedy.”

Closing the gap begins with public education across multiple channels.

Drivers were most likely to say they learned about new traffic laws from road signs, but many recalled hearing about them from other sources.

Data also suggests that drivers unfamiliar with Slow Down, Move Over laws may respond to different outreach methods, reinforcing the need for awareness campaigns, driver education, enforcement messaging, and community outreach.

Move Over laws apply to all vehicles with flashing or hazard lights, including law enforcement, EMS, fire, highway maintenance, construction, utility, trash, and disabled vehicles in 33 states and states and Washington, DC.

The AAA FTS provides a link to a PDF with each state’s requirements: https://newsroom.aaa.com/asset/slow-down-move-over-state-laws/