NDOT and Nevada State Police remind motorists to slow down, move over for first responders

With Crash Responder Safety Week held Nov. 17-21, the Nevada Department of Transportation and Nevada State Police, Highway Patrol Division remind motorists that Nevada law requires drivers to slow down and move over for law enforcement and traffic response vehicles.

Governor Lombardo has proclaimed the week of Nov. 17 as Crash Responder Safety Week in Nevada, recognizing the first responders who place themselves in danger while performing valuable, life-saving work on Nevada’s roadsides, and reminding Nevada drivers of the state’s move over law.

Traffic incidents are the primary cause of death for police officers and emergency medical responders nationwide, with 46 roadside first responders struck and killed last year on the nation’s roads. 

Nevada’s move over law is aimed at keeping first responders and others safe on the road. The law requires drivers to slow down, proceed with caution, and move to the far lane if possible when passing an emergency response vehicle working on the side of the road with amber lights flashing. The law also requires drivers to do the same for NDOT, Freeway Service Patrol, tow, utility and other vehicles stopped on the side of the road.

Driving Safety Reminders

• For safety, Nevada law has long required drivers to slow down, proceed with caution, and if possible, move to the far lane when passing a vehicle(s) pulled over on the side of the road. This includes NDOT and other road work vehicles with flashing amber or non-flashing blue lights on.
• Nevada law also requires drivers involved in minor, non-injury fender benders to safely move their vehicle out of the travel lanes when possible, helping reduce the chance of secondary crashes for themselves and other drivers.
• Keep your car in good condition, including routine maintenance and checks.
• Always buckle up. Never drive impaired or while sleepy or distracted.
• Drive attentively, not aggressively. Continually scan the road ahead of you to be prepared.
• Do not speed. Space your vehicle far enough from other cars so you have time to avoid potential crashes.
• Keep updated on current state road conditions by logging onto nvroads.com or dialing 511 before driving.

Nevada First Responders Train Together For Safe and Efficient Roadway Crash Response

National statistics show that for every minute a freeway lane is blocked, the likelihood of a secondary crash increases nearly 3%. 

The Nevada Department of Transportation and Nevada State Police, local law enforcement, fire departments, public works, emergency medical responders, federal highway, public works and emergency response staff as well as private towing and hazardous materials responders train together in regional traffic incident management (TIM) coalitions to improve road incident response and roadway safety while reducing travel delays. 

Since Nevada’s first TIM coalition was founded in southern Nevada, coalitions statewide have trained more than 82 percent of all Nevada road incident responders to implement consistent, safe, quick clearance of traffic incidents. More than 1,200 Nevada first responders have been trained in traffic incident safety in the past three years. The collaborative, multiagency training helps incident responders throughout the state seamlessly work together.  More information is available at www.NVtim.com.

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