Kansas lawmakers are pushing for stronger laws and tougher penalties for drivers who don’t pull over.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Kansas lawmakers are pushing for stronger laws and tougher penalties for drivers who don’t pull over.
Getting too close to roadside service vehicles has proven to be dangerous.
On Tuesday, the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka approved a new traffic safety bill, requiring drivers to move over in traffic to make room for workers in the sides of roads.
This proposed update to the state’s existing “move over” laws would include most vehicles with flashing warning lights or where roadside flares are used. This includes any stationary vehicle, as well as tow trucks, utility trucks and garbage trucks.
They would require drivers to move over and make space for workers to do business safely.
Kaleigh Kupchin’s family operates Santa Fe Towing in Lenexa. Back in January, one of her tow trucks was hit by a driver who failed to move over. The driver suffered minor injuries in the crash. He’s back to work now. Kupchin cites statistics showing one U.S. tow truck driver is killed every six days.
“It’s a very dangerous and scary spot to be in, so to be able to push this law to where anybody on the side of the road will be liable if they don’t slow down and move over for that emergency vehicle on the side of the road is huge,” Kupchin said.
Police in Overland Park agree. In January, Overland Park police posted video to social media showing what happened when an officers was working a roadside crash.
The officer was nearly killed when another driver failed to provide him space. When the other driver hit a patch of ice, he rammed into the Overland Park police car.
“If you see a vehicle that’s on the shoulder, an emergency vehicle, just move over. Give us a little room to work. It makes us feel safer and it’s safer for the driver,” Overland Park Police Ofc. John Lacy said.
The expanded Kansas law will also penalize drivers who use handheld ell phones in construction zones or school zones. The bill now goes to the state senate in Topeka.
