WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – It was a scary moment when an Oklahoma state trooper narrowly escaped being seriously injured. The SUV he had just pulled over was hit by a passing vehicle.
In Kansas, Senate Bill 142 aims to boost punishment for drivers ignoring the Move Over Law .
Under current law, drivers are required to move over or slow down when they see law enforcement or emergency responders with their lights flashing on the side of the road. If they don’t, they only get a warning. They do not get a ticket. A proposed bill would change that.
Daughter of Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper raises awareness of the Move Over Law
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund data shows 40 officers across the country died in vehicle crashes in 2022. Sixteen of those officers were hit while standing outside of their cars.
Kansas troopers say many of the crashes involving law enforcement officers are preventable.
“If we could just give ourselves that extra 10 minutes, you know. The worst that that’s going to happen is you’re going to get your kids to school earlier, you’re going to get to work earlier, now we’re not speeding, now we’re not running those red lights, not trying to pass cars on the shoulder doing things that we normally wouldn’t do in those situations,” said Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Chad Crittenden.