[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 476 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 476

    Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Move Over Law Day.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 28, 2023

 Mr. Blumenthal (for himself, Mr. Braun, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Fischer, 
  Mr. Warner, Mr. Lujan, and Mr. Whitehouse) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Move Over Law Day.

Whereas the Senate wishes to recognize traffic incident management responders 
        (as described in the Traffic Incident Management Handbook of the Federal 
        Highway Administration), which include law enforcement officers, fire 
        and rescue personnel, emergency medical services personnel, tow truck 
        operators, and transportation workers;
Whereas many traffic incident management responders are seriously injured or 
        lose their lives while performing their duties each year as a result of 
        being struck by speeding, impaired, or distracted motorists and 
        motorists who are not aware of move over laws;
Whereas, in 2022, 50 traffic incident management responders were killed in the 
        United States due to roadside collisions;
Whereas the Federal Highway Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety 
        Administration, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration of 
        the Department of Transportation host the Crash Responder Safety Week 
        annually in November as part of a national effort to--

    (1) protect traffic incident management responders who are at the scene 
of highway crashes; and

    (2) remind the public of their responsibility to slow down, move over, 
and stay alert when driving near roadside incidents involving traffic 
incident management responders;

Whereas each State has a move over law, which has correlated directly with a 
        safer environment along the roadsides of the United States for traffic 
        incident management responders and stranded travelers;
Whereas move over laws generally require motorists to move at least 1 lane over 
        when there is an emergency or rescue activity taking place on the 
        shoulder or side of the roadway, or, if unable to do so safely, to slow 
        down and pass the scene with caution;
Whereas the Government Accountability Office report entitled ``Emergency 
        Responder Safety: States and DOT Are Implementing Actions to Reduce 
        Roadside Crashes'' (GAO-21-166) noted that State officials cite raising 
        public awareness as the most prevalent challenge to move over laws; and
Whereas providing traffic incident management responders with an enhanced 
        opportunity to inform the motoring public about move over laws is 
        critical to the public safety: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of a National Move Over 
        Law Day; and
            (2) urges national, State, and regional incident management 
        organizations--
                    (A) to spread awareness and promote the existence 
                of, and adherence to, State move over laws; and
                    (B) to educate the public further on the dangers 
                and loss of life that occur if State move over laws are 
                not faithfully observed.
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