Move over.

That's the message from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

The cabinet wants to remind Kentuckians about the slow down, move over law during this crash.

Responder safety week.

No matter what time of year it is.

Pulling over can save lives.

We are raising awareness of the risks first responders face when working near roadways, and making sure drivers know that the law is not optional.

So in Kentucky over the past three years, crashes involving emergency vehicles responding to an accident resulted in more than 1000 collisions.

There was about 360 injuries and six deaths.

So just with those numbers alone, I think that gives us a real good, real good sense that this is very important, that our motoring public knows that when they see those lights out there, that is very important for them to either slow down and or move over.

The slow down the road law requires drivers approaching a vehicle with flashing lights, or a warning signal to move over a lane if it's safe, or slow down significantly if they cannot.

The law was expanded in 2024 to cover all vehicles, including disabled vehicles.

Don't want them to come to a stop because we need that steady flow of traffic, but at least slow down so that if somebody was to dart out from a car, then they are likely to be able to react to that particular situation.

It's important that they use caution, reduce speed and watch out for people.

Avoid distractions.

Stay focused on the road and be prepared for sudden movements.

So under Kentucky law, any person who violate the slow down move over law, may be fined between 60 and $500 or face up to 30 days in county jail or both.

The goal is not about tickets.

It's about saving lives.

A lot of times we think maybe this may not happen for and happen someplace else.

It doesn't happen in Kentucky.

You know, you see it on the news, but it's always in another state.

Those types of incidents actually happen here in Kentucky.

And, we want to make sure that all our motoring public is safe.

And not only do we want to make sure that they're safe, but we want to make sure that those folks that are responding to these accidents are safe, and they can make sure that they're safe by paying attention, slowing down, and just simply moving over to another lane.

That would create space for our first responders.

The state law was expanded last year to also protect any stationary vehicles on the side of the road that have on flashing lights or warning signals.

This includes emergency vehicles and tow trucks.