State expands Move Over Law, aiming to protect people from roadside crashes

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — New York State is expanding its Move Over Law starting Wednesday, aiming to protect people from getting hit on roadsides.

The law will now require drivers to slow down and move over to avoid all vehicles stopped on the side of the road. Before, it required drivers to move over only to avoid stopped emergency vehicles, maintentence workers, and tow vehicles.

The state created the Move Over Law in 2010 to prevent emergency workers from getting killed in crashes. Since the, the law has expanded to protect highway workers and others.

From 2016 to 2020, there were 37 people who died outside their vehicles in New York State. Nationally, nearly 300 drivers are struck and killed on roadsides every year.