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Kansas Move Over Law

Originally Implemented in 2000


Includes all Law Enforcement, Emergency Vehicles, First Responders and Tow Trucks


Slow Down and Change Lanes Whenever Possible To Give Them Room

The Law

Article 15. - UNIFORM ACT REGULATING TRAFFIC; RULES OF THE ROAD

8-1530. Duty of driver upon approach of authorized emergency vehicle. (a) Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle making use of an audible signal meeting the requirements of subsection (d) of K.S.A. 8-1738, and amendments thereto, and visual signals meeting the requirements of K.S.A. 8-1720, and amendments thereto, or of a police vehicle properly and lawfully making use of an audible signal only, the driver of every other vehicle shall do the following unless otherwise directed by a police officer:

(1) Yield the right-of-way;

(2)  immediately drive to a position parallel to and as close as possible to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection; and

(3) stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.

(b)  The driver of a motor vehicle upon approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle, when the authorized emergency vehicle is making use of visual signals meeting the requirements of K.S.A. 8-1720, and amendments thereto, or subsection (d) of K.S.A. 8-1722, and amendments thereto, shall do either of the following:

(1) If the driver of the motor vehicle is traveling on a highway that consists of at least two lanes that carry traffic in the same direction of travel as that of the driver's motor vehicle, the driver shall proceed with due caution and, if possible and with due regard to the road, weather and traffic conditions, shall change lanes into a lane that is not adjacent to that of the stationary authorized emergency vehicle; or

(2)  if the driver is not traveling on a highway of a type described in paragraph (1), or if the driver is traveling on a highway of that type but it is not possible to change lanes or if to do so would be unsafe, the driver shall proceed with due caution, reduce the speed of the motor vehicle and maintain a safe speed for the road, weather and traffic conditions.

(c) From and after the effective date of this act and prior to July 1, 2001, a law enforcement officer shall issue a warning citation to anyone violating the provisions of subsection (b).

(d) This section shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.

 

A Message form the Kansas Highway Patrol: Move Over to Keep Kansas Roads Safe!

Jan. 2010 - Moving over for law enforcement and other vehicles is important any time of year. During the winter months, moving over is paramount to safety of the public, officers, and road workers. When snow and ice covers the road, or even parts of it, you can easily lose control of your vehicle. If there is a law enforcement officer, road worker, or crash victim outside their vehicle when you lose control, the results of the crash could be tragic.

During the Christmas snow storm, a Missouri State Trooper was killed in the line of duty when a driver lost control and struck the trooper who was standing outside of his vehicle. The following Monday, a Kansas Department of Transportation worker was struck in Kansas City, and within a few days, two KHP patrol vehicles were struck (one occupied, one unoccupied).

Did you know more officers are lost in the line of duty due to crashes than any other single cause of death (data from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund)? Nationally in 2009, 125 officers were lost in the line of duty, and of those, 56 were killed in some sort of crash. While these are preliminary figures, and subject to change, traffic crashes still represent one of the biggest hazards to law enforcement on the roads. If you ask officers their biggest fear in their job, many will say they fear getting struck by a vehicle.

It’s not only law enforcement and road workers who are in danger of getting hit while on the side of the road. When temperatures warmed up last week, roads re-froze overnight, and there were many cars sliding into ditches and medians. Last Monday, Jan. 11, on US-24 Highway, west of Rossville, a mother and daughter were struck and pinned under a vehicle after exiting their vehicles to survey the damage caused when one of their vehicles slid off the road.

It’s Kansas law to move over for emergency vehicles and road crews. If you can’t move into the lane away from the emergency vehicle, you should always slow down for them. The same should go for individuals on the side of the road. When you see a vehicle broke down, even if they’re on the shoulder, it is a good practice to move away from the vehicle when possible, and to always slow down for them.

Help keep Kansas roads safe! Slow down and move over for your safety, as well as for the safety of other motorists, law enforcement officers, and road crews.

 

 

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