COLUMBUS – The death of AAA tow provider Glenn Ewing, 32, on July 4 highlights how dangerous it is for individuals who work regularly along the shoulders of Ohio’s roads. Ewing was killed while placing a disabled vehicle on the back of a flatbed near Cincinnati.
The accident is one reason state officials are calling on all drivers to move over and slow down for any vehicle with flashing lights parked on the roadside, a recent press release said.
According to a new crash analysis from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), 546 crashes have occurred so far in 2021 when drivers failed to move over or slow down for a stationary vehicle with flashing lights. This has caused 21 deaths and 59 serious injuries. Between 2015 and 2020, a total of 5,561 move over-related crashes occurred in Ohio.
“The men and women who work on our roads have a simple request for drivers: ‘Help us get home safe at the end of the day.’ Moving over and slowing down allows them to do that,” said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks.
Those who do not comply with Ohio’s Move Over Law are subject to charges and fines. The law is strictly enforced. In fact, in 2020, the Ohio State Highway Patrol issued 7,829 citations for those failing to move over or slow down. So far this year, 3,576 citations have been issued.
“Survey data shows that many Ohioans still don’t move over for tow truck operators, construction vehicles or disabled vehicles,” said Executive Director Ferzan M. Ahmed, P.E., Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission. “Since 2015, two tow truck operators have been killed on the Ohio Turnpike. Their families will have to bear the loss of their loved ones for the rest of their lives.
“People have the responsibility to obey the law in order to keep all roadside workers and motorists safe from injury and death,” Ahmed said.
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