Texas Border Business
AUSTIN – Every day, thousands of law enforcement officers, first responders and road maintenance crews work on Texas highways braving high-speed traffic and distracted drivers. Tragically, many of them are injured or killed on the job. To help prevent harm to these essential workers, TxDOT urges drivers to abide by the state’s Move Over or Slow Down law.
Most drivers know to pull over for first responders driving behind or toward them, but Texas law also requires motorists to move over—putting a lane between them and roadside workers—or slow their speed to 20 mph below the posted speed limit when passing law enforcement, tow trucks, utility vehicles, emergency responders and TxDOT vehicles stopped with activated overhead lights on the side of the road.
Penalties for failing to follow the law were strengthened in 2023, and drivers can receive a fine of up to $1,250 for a first offense. Drivers who cause serious injuries while neglecting the law may face jail time and a fine of up to $4,000.
The people who maintain our roads and help keep Texans safe deserve to be safe, too. TxDOT’s Be Safe. Drive Smart. public awareness campaign asks all drivers to move over or slow down when approaching traffic stops, crash responders or highway construction zones.
Crash Responder Safety Week (Nov. 18–22), which recognizes the traffic incident responders who put their lives on the line to help crash victims and clear debris, is an opportune time to remind motorists to do their part to safely pass when they see these workers. They want to get home safe, too.
| The Move Over or Slow Down law requires drivers to: |
| Be on alert and pay attention when approaching roadside law enforcement, emergency vehicles, tow trucks, utility vehicles and TxDOT vehicles with flashing lights on. |
| When possible, move out of the lane closest to these vehicles. |
| Slow down to 20 mph below the posted speed limit if safely switching lanes is not possible or the road doesn’t offer multiple lanes. |
| Reduce speed to 5 mph on roadways with a posted speed limit of 25 mph or less. |
| The state’s Move Over or Slow Down law was first passed in 2003 and applied to law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services vehicles. The Texas Legislature has since extended the law’s protections to include TxDOT vehicles, tow trucks and utility service vehicles. |
Be Safe. Drive Smart. is a key component of #EndTheStreakTX, a broader social media and word-of-mouth effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel to help end the streak of daily deaths. Nov. 7, 2000, was the last deathless day on Texas roadways.
