Saturday, October 16, has been designated National Move Over Day to remind drivers to help protect emergency personnel working on the side of the road.

The Missouri State Highway patrol says in 2020, three people were killed and 51 injured in the 231 traffic crashes involving parked emergency vehicles displaying emergency lights. Preliminary statistics indicate there have been 168 traffic crashes resulting in one person being killed and 46 injured thus far in 2021.

Missouri’s law directs motorists to proceed with caution and yield the right-of-way when possible upon approaching a stationary vehicle displaying lighted red or red and blue lights, or a stationary vehicle displaying lighted amber or amber and white lights. Drivers should change lanes away from the stationary vehicle if the roadway has at least two lanes traveling the same direction. When changing lanes is not possible, motorists are directed to reduce their speed, while maintaining a safe speed for road conditions, when traveling past these vehicles.

Emergency vehicles include Highway Patrol, police, sheriff, fire department, coroner or medical examiner, ambulance, tow truck, MoDOT, public utility, corrections officers, National Guard civil support team, and those vehicles carrying equipment to save lives at a traffic crash or incidents involving a hazardous substance.