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National Move Over Day 2026: Slow Down, Move Over, Save a Life

October 17, 2026


Slow Down, Move Over graphic from Guardian Fleet Services with a city highway skyline for National Move Over Day

Highway Safety

Saturday, October 17, 2026

Every day, tow truck operators, first responders, and roadside crews work just feet from traffic moving at highway speed. On National Move Over Day, and every day, Guardian Fleet Services® is asking every driver to do one simple thing that saves lives: slow down and move over.

National Move Over Day is observed on the third Saturday in October, and this year it falls on Saturday, October 17, 2026. It is a day to raise awareness about Move Over laws and to remind drivers that the shoulder of the road is a workplace for the people who keep our highways clear.

What Is the Move Over Law?

All 50 states have a Move Over law. The rule is simple: when you see a stopped vehicle on the side of the road with flashing lights, such as a tow truck, police car, ambulance, fire truck, or roadside assistance vehicle, you must move over one lane if it is safe to do so. If you cannot safely change lanes, you must slow down.

Many states have expanded their laws to protect any disabled vehicle with its hazard lights on, not just emergency vehicles. Speed requirements and penalties vary from state to state and can include fines, points on your license, and even jail time if someone is hurt.

Slow Down, Move Over, It's the Law graphic from Guardian Fleet Services showing traffic moving over a lane to pass a tow truck stopped on the shoulder
If you see flashing lights on the shoulder, move over. If you can’t move over, slow down. It’s the law in every state.

Why Move Over Day Matters to Tow Operators

Tow truck operators are among the most at-risk roadside responders in the country. Unlike police and fire crews, tow operators often work alone, at night, in bad weather, and right on the edge of live traffic while they hook up a disabled car or recover a jackknifed tractor-trailer. Distracted and speeding drivers are one of the biggest dangers they face.

At Guardian Fleet Services, our tow operators respond to light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty towing calls around the clock. They are the people who clear crashes, help stranded drivers, and get traffic moving again. Every one of them deserves to make it home safely at the end of a shift.

Move Over safety is personal for our family. Guardian’s own Jim Jennings, a 2026 Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame inductee, founded Towers with a Heart, a nonprofit that funds Move Over safety campaigns across Florida.

How You Can Protect Roadside Workers

Following the Move Over law takes only a few seconds. Here is how every driver can help keep tow operators and first responders safe:

Watch for flashing lights. Red, blue, amber, or hazard lights on the shoulder mean someone is working there.
Move over a lane. Signal early and change lanes when it is safe to give roadside crews space.
Slow down if you can’t move over. Drop well below the speed limit as you pass.
Put your phone down. Distracted driving is a leading cause of roadside responder crashes.
Don’t rubberneck. Keep your eyes on the road, not the scene.
Share the message. Talk to the drivers in your family and your fleet about Move Over laws.

A Message for Fleet Managers and Commercial Drivers

Commercial trucks need more time and distance to slow down and change lanes. If you manage a fleet, National Move Over Day is a great time to remind your drivers about Move Over laws in every state they travel through. A quick safety talk can prevent a tragedy.

And when your fleet needs help on the road, Guardian Fleet Services is ready with 24/7 emergency towing, heavy-duty recovery, and roadside assistance from terminals across the country. Our operators follow strict scene safety practices so your drivers, your equipment, and our team stay protected.

If Your Vehicle Breaks Down

Pull as far off the road as you safely can and turn on your hazard lights.
If it is not safe to get out, stay in your vehicle with your seat belt on.
Call for help and give your location, direction of travel, and nearest exit or mile marker.

Move Over Law FAQs

When is National Move Over Day 2026?

National Move Over Day is held on the third Saturday in October. In 2026, it falls on Saturday, October 17.

What does a Move Over law require?

When you approach a stopped emergency vehicle, tow truck, or roadside crew with flashing lights, you must move over a lane if it is safe to do so. If you cannot move over, you must slow down. Specific speed requirements and penalties vary by state.

Do Move Over laws apply to tow trucks?

Yes. Every state has a Move Over law, and tow trucks and roadside assistance vehicles are protected under them. Many states also extend protection to any disabled vehicle displaying hazard lights.

What should I do if my vehicle breaks down on the highway?

Pull as far off the road as you can, turn on your hazard lights, stay buckled in your vehicle if it is unsafe to exit, and call for help. Guardian Fleet Services provides 24/7 emergency towing and roadside assistance at 866-475-9001.

Guardians of the Highways

Our tow operators are proud to be Guardians of the Highways®. This National Move Over Day, and every day, help us protect the people who protect you on the road.

Slow down. Move over. Let everyone get home safely.

Need a Tow? We’re Here 24/7

From light-duty towing to heavy-duty recovery and roadside assistance, Guardian Fleet Services is ready around the clock.

Guardian Fleet Services® | Guardian of the Highways®