Improving Worker Safety Along Missouri’s Roadways
In 2002 state lawmakers passed the “Slow Down and Move Over” law to remind motorists to slow down and change lanes when approaching law enforcement, emergency vehicles and first responders. In 2012, the law was expanded to include certain Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) vehicles. While the law has certainly increased public awareness and improved the safety for those individuals working along our highways, there are still far too many accidents that result from careless or inattentive driving around these workers.
Last summer a MoDOT employee was struck by a motorist while performing bridge maintenance work. He was the 132nd MoDOT employee to lose their life in the line of duty. This does not take into consideration all the close calls many of our workers have experienced in work zones throughout their careers.
This session I have sponsored two bills to expand the “Move Over” law yet again. Senate Bill 187 adds stationary utility vehicles to the list of vehicles requiring motorists to proceed with caution when approaching, while Senate Bill 61 will allow certain MoDOT vehicles to use a different lighting scheme to grab drivers’ attention as they enter work zones.
Our law enforcement, first responders, and transportation and utility workers are out there year-round, working in all types of weather conditions. They are the ones responding to traffic accidents, maintaining our roads and bridges, and keeping our lights on. Unfortunately, with all the available technology we have today, drivers have more distractions than ever before thus endangering the lives of those who work on our roadways.
I believe we can do more to improve the safety of our workers, increase awareness about the consequences of distracted driving and encourage the public to slow down and move over. These measures are important additional steps, and I am hopeful they will be signed into law.
As always, please feel free to call, email, or write with your ideas or concerns. My Capitol office number is (573) 751-1415, my email is dan.hegeman@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is Room 332, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.