Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Before ending session, New York State lawmakers passed a bill adding to the list of vehicles you're required to move over or slow down for while driving in the state.
Civilian vehicles broken down on the shoulder have now been added to the list.
LISTEN LIVE TO WBEN:
AAA says at least 17 other states, including Maryland and Connecticut, already have laws enacted to protect stranded drivers from being struck on the roadside. Similar legislation was recently signed by the Governor in Rhode Island.
Elizabeth Carey with AAA of Western and Central NY says it could definitely save lives. "From a AAA perspective, our roadside workers, that's their workspace on the side of the road, and there's only about three feet of space, separating a vehicle on the roadside with these speeding cars that are going past them," explains Carey. She says for a motorist to be on the side of the road, without even a police vehicle around if they happen to have a breakdown on the roadside, they're very vulnerable, and they could be struck by another vehicle.
Carey cites NHTSA numbers showing 1,700 people were struck while outside of a disabled vehicle in the US from about 2016 to 2020. And many of those were fatalities that took place right here in New York State.
"it's the next logical step," says State Senator Patrick Gallivan. "I think it became evident that other disabled vehicles are those that when they're distressed and parked on the side of a highway, they're in just as much danger." He says expanding the "Move Over Law" makes sense.
Gallivan says it's a common occurrence, and one that can be scary. "If it's something that you've ever experienced, you know how dangerous it can be just sitting there, or stepping outside of your vehicle and having cars whizzing by at 55, 60 miles an hour," explains Gallivan. He says it's been common that many people are more conscious of cars that are pulled over on the shoulder and many more operators are exercising due caution for all vehicles not just the emergency vehicles.
A disabled vehicle is something Assemblymember Angelo Morinello says he sees often in his travels from Buffalo to Albany. "I saw four incidents like that last week, two on the right side, two on the left side, and on the left side of the thruway was because whatever occurred they were closer to that side," says Morinello. He also notes the average driver might panic when the car becomes disabled. "If they have an emergency, they normally aren't aware of what their surroundings are, so I think we owe them a duty of care," notes Morinello.
But Morinello notices some aren't considerate of other drivers. "They're forgetting how to drive on the highway. They're forgetting that there are other drivers out there. So I think that if we make people aware, they'll become more cognizant of what their obligations are when they are on the highway and safety of others," says Morinello.
The law already requires drivers to be extra cautious when approaching an emergency or hazard vehicle that is stopped on the side of the road with its emergency lights on. Gov. Kathy Hochul must sign the expansion into law.