With millions of Texans expected to travel for Thanksgiving, state transportation officials are urging motorists to follow Texas’s Move Over or Slow Down law to protect roadside workers and first responders.
The Texas Department of Transportation highlighted the safety message as part of Crash Responder Safety Week, observed Nov. 17–21, and through its “Be Safe. Drive Smart” campaign.
The agency says law enforcement officers, towtruck operators, utility crews and TxDOT workers regularly operate only feet — and sometimes inches — from high-speed traffic, putting them at risk of injury or death when drivers speed or are distracted.
Texas law requires drivers to move over one lane or slow to 20 mph below the posted speed limit when passing law enforcement, emergency responders, tow trucks, utility vehicles, municipal waste trucks and Tx-DOT vehicles stopped with activated lights.
A change that took effect Sept. 1, expanded those protections to include animal control officers and parking enforcement employees.
Drivers who fail to comply can face fines up to $1,250 for a first offense, and motorists who cause serious injuries may face jail time and fines up to $4,000.
TxDOT released several reminders for drivers approaching stopped vehicles with flashing lights: stay alert, move out of the closest lane when possible, and slow down significantly if a lane change is not safe.
On roads with a posted limit of 25 mph or less, drivers should reduce speed to 5 mph.
The safety push comes as AAA Texas estimates that 5.8 million Texans will travel by car for the Thanksgiving holiday.
TxDOT’s Move Over or Slow Down message is part of its broader “Drive Like a Texan: Kind. Courteous. Safe.” initiative, which encourages drivers to make responsible choices to reduce crashes statewide.
The Texas Department of Transportation maintains about 80,000 miles of road and supports aviation, rail, maritime and public transportation systems across the state.
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