[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 195 (Tuesday, November 28, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5641]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 476--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF A NATIONAL 
                           MOVE OVER LAW DAY

  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:

                              S. Res. 476

       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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