“Slow Down and Move Over”; Law Expands To Include MoDOT Workers

July 17, 2012
Since 2000, four Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) workers have been killed on the job and dozens more have been injured. A total of 128 employees have died in the line of duty since the inception of the department in 1946. In an effort to prevent any further accidents, Governor Jay Nixon signed a new “Slow Down and Move Over” law into the books.

According to a press release issued by MoDOT, some variation of the “Slow Down and Move Over” law has been on the state’s books since 2002, and requires that motorists slow down and change lanes to offer more space to emergency vehicles and crews that are working on the side of the road. The newest version of the law, which was signed this past Monday and will take effect on August 28, expands that law to include MoDOT vehicles with amber and white flashing lights on.

MoDOT officials praised the move, saying that employee safety is of highest concern and the department appreciated the state giving workers the same protection that emergency responders receive. There is also the benefit to the state of fewer St. Louis Workers’ Compensation claims from workers.

The Personal Injury Lawyers Serving St. Louis with Cofman Townsley Injury Lawyers are confident that, if obeyed by motorists, the new law will be successful in its goal of reducing accidents that result in the injury of highway workers.