AUSTIN, Texas — This Saturday marks National Move Over Awareness Day. AAA and the Texas Department of Public Safety are reminding drivers to follow the law.
"This law mandates that drivers move over, creating a safe space between themselves and roadside workers, reduce their speed to 20 mph below the public limit," said Texas DPS Sgt. Billy Ray.
Ray said you can face penalties for not following the move over law.
"If you have failed to move over when you are supposed to and that results in a crash because you failed to vacate that lane and there is bodily injury, you can face a class B misdemeanor that could include a $2,000 fine or up to 180 days in jail," said Ray.
AAA spokesperson Doug Shupe said each year on average 24 emergency responders, including tow truck drivers, are hit and killed at the roadside. In those fatal crashes, 89% were within speeds of 55 mph or higher and 63% happened in darkness.
Heather Haenes said 17 years ago, she was traveling southbound on the MoPac Expressway when she got in a fender bender. She and the other driver involved pulled to the side of the road to assess the damage, but another car was driving too fast.
"Went off the side of the road and hit our cars. I was standing in between the two cars. I was instantly amputated from that impact. Terrifying. I really did not know if I’d survive that day. Absolutely changed – it 100% changed who I was and how I did life," said Haenes.
She is thankful be alive. She got prosthetic legs and learned to walk again.
She said she wants drivers to be cautious.
"Slow down and be safe on the road, be aware of other cars," she said.