One Move Saves Lives

May 22, 2026

When you see flashing lights on the side of the road, your next move matters more than you think. Police officers, firefighters, tow truck operators, and linemen often perform their jobs in areas that are only feet away from passing traffic. The Move Over law in North Carolina exists to help protect those who put themselves at risk to help others.

The law is simple. When approaching a vehicle with flashing lights, drivers must slow down and move into the next lane if safe. If changing lanes isn’t possible, slow down and proceed with caution.

Unfortunately, each year, roadside responders are injured or killed due to drivers failing to slow down or move over. Many of these incidents happen when drivers are distracted, in a hurry, or simply unaware of their surroundings.

For linemen, working along the road is a regular part of restoring and maintaining power. Crews often respond to outages, repair damaged equipment, and replace power poles along busy roads, regardless of the weather or time of day. While crews work to restore power, drivers should give them sufficient room to work.

Moving over isn’t just following the law; it’s about protecting the people who work hard to keep our communities safe and powered.