AAA Texas, Houston TranStar, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Houston-Galveston Area Council and Local Tow Truck Drivers Offering Interviews to Raise Awareness about ‘Move Over or Slow Down’ Law
WHAT: AAA Texas, TranStar, HCSO and H-GAC will hold a media availability to remind the public about adhering to Texas’ ‘Move Over or Slow Down’ Law
VISUALS: Crash cars involved in wrecks from drivers not adhering to state law
Video of emergency roadside workers assisting stranded drivers
Video of drivers not moving over or slowing down for roadside crews
WHO: Firsthand accounts from Tow and Go tow truck drivers and HSCO MAP deputies
AAA Texas spokesperson Joshua Zuber
Harris County Sheriff Deputy Lt. Cedrick Collier
H-GAC Regional Incident Management Program Manager David Fink
Houston TranStar Staff Analyst Ruth Tovar (Spanish Language interviews)
WHEN: 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Friday, October 14
(Scheduled early morning live interviews with AAA spokesperson available.)
WHERE: Houston TranStar lobby and parking lot
6922 Katy Rd.
Houston, TX 77024
WHY: With Saturday, October 15 recognized as ‘Move Over Slow Down Awareness Day,’ local traffic safety advocates want to share how important it is to remind drivers about the urgency of following the ‘Move Over or Slow Down’ law. The Texas Move Over/Slow Down law requires that passing motorists move out of the lane closest to an emergency vehicle stopped on the roadway, or if they can’t safely move, reduce driving speeds to 20 miles below the posted limit. According to a AAA survey, nearly 25% of drivers were unaware of the state’s Move Over law, which protects roadside crews, including tow truck drivers. Among people who don’t comply with Move Over Laws, almost half thought this behavior was somewhat - or - not dangerous at all. This shows that people do not realize how risky it is to be alongside of the road next to fast-moving traffic. Texas had the highest number of people killed along roadways outside of a disabled vehicle from 2015 to 2019.
PHONE: Joshua Zuber, AAA Texas 713-533-2946 or Ruth Tovar, TranStar 713-881-3041