Every year, hundreds of roadside workers are killed or injured because a driver did not slow down, did not move over, or simply was not paying attention. Tow truck operators. Highway maintenance crews. First responders. These are real people doing dangerous jobs in narrow margins, with fast-moving traffic just feet away.

National Work Zone Awareness Week exists to change that.

 

What Is Work Zone Awareness Week?

Held each spring, National Work Zone Awareness Week is a federally recognized campaign designed to reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries in and around active work zones. It brings together transportation agencies, law enforcement, safety advocates, and the towing and recovery industry to remind the public: the road is a shared space, and the people working on it deserve to go home safely.

At Guardian Fleet Services®, this week carries personal weight. Our operators and recovery teams work alongside roadways every day, in every condition, at every hour. We know what it means when a driver does not move over.

 

The Slow Down, Move Over Law

Every state in the United States has a Move Over law. The specifics vary by state, but the core requirement is consistent: when you approach an emergency vehicle, tow truck, road crew, or other authorized vehicle stopped on the side of the road with lights activated, you are required by law to move over to a non-adjacent lane or slow down to a safe speed below the posted limit if a lane change is not possible.

Violations carry real consequences. In most states, failure to comply results in fines, points on your license, and in the event of an injury or fatality, criminal charges.

But beyond the legal obligation, there is a human one.

 

Why It Matters More Than You Think

A tow truck operator working a breakdown on the shoulder has, on average, less than three feet of clearance between their body and passing traffic. At highway speeds, a distracted driver drifting even slightly toward the shoulder can be fatal. The same is true for road maintenance workers, highway construction crews, and utility technicians.

Distractions play a significant role. A driver traveling at 65 miles per hour covers the length of a football field in roughly three seconds. In those same three seconds, a glance at a phone, a reach for a cup of coffee, or an adjustment of the radio can mean the difference between life and death for someone standing on that shoulder.

 

What You Can Do

The ask is straightforward:

• When you see flashing lights on the side of the road, move over a full lane. If traffic does not allow it, slow down significantly, well below the posted speed limit, and stay alert until you have passed the scene.
• Put the phone down before you reach a work zone or incident scene. Many states have hands-free laws with enhanced penalties in active work zones.
• Comply with posted reduced speed limits, which are set based on worker proximity, not inconvenience.
• Be patient. A brief delay to protect a worker’s life is always the right choice.

Guardian Fleet Services® Stands With Roadside Workers

Our operators run toward the scenes that everyone else pulls away from. They work in the dark, in rain, in heat, and in the immediate aftermath of serious collisions. They do it with professionalism, training, and dedication.

During Work Zone Awareness Week and every week, Guardian Fleet Services® calls on all drivers to take the Slow Down, Move Over commitment seriously. Know the law in your state. Practice it every time you see flashing lights. Teach it to new drivers in your family.

The road belongs to all of us. Let us protect the people who keep it moving.

 

Learn more about Guardian Fleet Services® at guardianfleetservice.com or call 866-475-9001.