Colorado’s “Slow Down, Move Over” Law

Did you know Colorado’s Move Over Law applies to any vehicle pulled over on the side of the road with its hazard lights flashing, not just emergency responders? In 2023, Colorado expanded its Move Over Law to protect all motorists, including passenger vehicles, emergency responders, tow trucks, utility trucks, construction vehicles and maintenance vehicles.

The law is simple:

On highways…

• Move over one lane when you see a vehicle stopped on the roadside.
• If you can’t safely move over, slow down to at least 20 mph below the posted speed limit.

On all other roads…

• In a 40 mph zone, slow down to 25 mph or less.
• In a 45 mph or higher zone, slow down by at least 20 mph.

But too often, drivers fail to follow these basic steps, resulting in tragic consequences.

More than 350 motorists are struck and killed each year while outside of their vehicle on the roadside — whether changing a tire, refueling after running out of gas, dealing with a breakdown or helping a stranded driver. This is in addition to the dozens of emergency responders and tow truck drivers who are struck and killed by passing motorists while doing their job on the side of the road each year.

Colorado State Patrol data shows that, in 2024 alone, 46 emergency responders working on the roadway were struck and killed, including 26 law enforcement officers, 12 tow truck operators, three firefighters and EMS personnel, four DOT and safety patrol operators and one road service technician. That’s 46 lives that could have been spared if passing motorists simply moved over or slowed down.

Additionally, preliminary CDOT data shows that, since 2022, there have been 57 construction zone fatalities and 486 roadside fatalities in Colorado.
The roadside's inherent dangers are why, according to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle towing is one of the country's deadliest lines of work — with a death rate 15 times more than that of every other private industry combined. It’s also why, in a recent driver survey from AAA, 97% of respondents said they would feel unsafe if stranded on the roadside.

Failing to move over in Colorado is a serious offense that falls under a Class 2 misdemeanor traffic infraction. It comes with a minimum $150 fine and three points off your license. Penalties increase depending on the severity of the situation and can include jail time.

Roadside crashes are preventable, and following the Move Over Law should be as automatic as buckling your seat belt. When you see flashing lights, hazard signals or a stopped vehicle — move over or slow down. The more we make this a habit, the safer Colorado’s roads will be for everyone.