The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is urging drivers to stay alert and slow down for first responders working on Alabama’s roads during Crash Responder Safety Week, Nov. 18-22.
Each year, ALDOT and emergency responders statewide join a national effort to improve roadway safety for first responders, from police to EMS and tow truck drivers. This year’s theme, “Responders Ahead! Reduce Your Speed As You Proceed,” encourages drivers to adjust their behavior when approaching an incident.
All across Alabama, responders like ALDOT crews, law enforcement, EMS and tow truck drivers are often working just inches away from high-speed traffic. We want drivers to understand the real dangers responders face every time they’re at work and how essential it is to adjust their driving behavior to keep everyone, including themselves, safe.
Allison Green, ALDOT’s Drive Safe Alabama Coordinator
ALDOT’s Role in Responding to Incidents
- Alabama Service Assistant Patrol (ASAP): ALDOT’s ASAP program helps clear minor incidents, assists stranded motorists and works to keep heavily traveled interstates safe. ASAP teams coordinate closely with local traffic centers, law enforcement and emergency responders to restore traffic flow after incidents.
Alabama Laws Protecting Responders
Two key Alabama laws help safeguard first responders on the road:
- Move Over Law: Requires drivers to move over or slow down when they see responders with emergency signals on the side of the road.
- Quick Clearance Law: Requires drivers involved in minor crashes to move vehicles out of travel lanes if possible, allowing responders to clear the scene and restore traffic flow quickly.
ALDOT urges drivers to reduce their speed and be vigilant whenever approaching an active roadway incident during Crash Responder Safety Week. Slowing down and creating a safe distance around emergency scenes helps protect responders and drivers. By following Alabama’s laws and limiting distractions, we can prevent secondary crashes as well, which often happen due to inattention or speeding near incidents. During Crash Responder Safety Week, ALDOT encourages everyone to understand and follow these laws to ensure safer travel for everyone on Alabama’s roads.
