If you have ever stopped along the roadside to check a tire, take a photo, or change drivers you realize how vulnerable you are standing by your car as drivers zoom past.

Every year, first responders are injured or killed while providing emergency services along America’s highways. The “Move Over” Law, which has been recently enacted in all 50 states, aims to make roadside emergency and maintenance professionals safer.

Unfortunately, a national survey shows that 71 percent of Americans have never heard of “Move Over” laws.

The Colorado Springs Police Department and its traffic safety partners, DRIVE SMART COLORADO, wants to remind drivers about Colorado’s “Move Over” Law.

First, what is the “Move Over” Law?
Colorado’s “Move Over” Law was officially implemented on July 1, 2005 to help protect emergency response personnel. This includes law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency service responders, tow truck operators and state, county and local highway maintenance workers.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) summarizes the law as follows: “Colorado’s Move Over Law stipulates required driver response to approaching emergency response vehicles as well as those stopped along the roadways. In summary, when emergency vehicles are approaching on a non-divided highway, all vehicles are required to move to the right side of the roadway and stop, clearing a path for the emergency vehicle to have the right of way. On a divided highway, those vehicles traveling the same direction as the emergency response vehicle are required to pull over to the right and stop until the vehicle passes. In the case of emergency or response vehicles stopped along the roadway, including maintenance trucks and vehicles from CDOT, counties and municipalities, the Move Over Law requires drivers to slow down and drive responsibly when on two-lane highways, and on divided multi-lane highways to slow down and move to a lane away from the emergency vehicle to allow maximum clear space for personnel to respond.”

Some sobering facts:

• Since January 2016, five Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) patrol cars have been totaled while in the line of duty and a CSPD Community Service Officer’s vehicle was hit while attending to a crash on I-25 by a vehicle going 75 mph.
• Nationally, in 2015, 52 law enforcement officers died as a result of traffic-related incidents and of those 52, 11 were struck and killed outside of their vehicle.
• In Colorado, drivers who do not abide by the law can expect a minimum fine of $169.50 with surcharges and four points on your license.

Maile Gray, DRIVE SMART Executive Director, says, “It is a good idea, and common courtesy, for drivers to move over for all motorists parked along the roadside, even though it is not part of Colorado’s statute and also, please remember to ‘Pull to the Right for Sirens and Lights’.”

For more information on the “Move Over” Law, please contact DRIVE SMART COLORADO at 719-444-7534.

Keith joined the Knob Hill Towing family in 2011 after moving to Colorado Springs from Missouri. Keith started out as a rollback driver on the night shift where he spent many nights changing tires, unlocking cars, and cleaning up accident scenes. Keith quickly became a team player and eagerly wanted to learn more about the towing life.

Within his first couple of years, Keith was asked if he would be interested in pursuing his CDL to join the Heavy Tow Department. He spent many hours training with Knob Hill Towing’s heavy drivers learning how to drive tractor trailers hauling construction equipment, as well as running our 35 and 55 Ton Wreckers.

A Class “A” CDL is a very difficult license to earn. It not only entails learning how to drive a tractor trailer, but more importantly, it requires you to know the laws and Department of Transportation regulations for safety. Doing a proper Pre-Trip Inspection is the hardest portion of the test. There are not many seasoned truck drivers out there that can perform the test perfectly. We are very proud of Keith for having the discipline and patience to get his CDL and allowing us to be able to expand our Heavy Department.

Keith is a family man. His first and foremost concern in life is providing for them and making sure their needs are met. Keith is the father of five children and the husband to an amazingly patient wife. Tow life is not a 9 to 5 job and often pulls you from your family at what can be the worst possible times. Being a tow operator is a hard, physical life, but it is more mentally draining on the family who is waiting at home. A tow operator is only as good as the family who supports their career, and Keith’s family has embraced him in this endeavor.

​Being a tow operator is not a job, it is a lifestyle. You have to be ready to go at the ring of a phone call, and once you walk out that door, you are unable to tell your family when you will be back.

After taking a short break from Knob Hill Towing, Keith rejoined the tow family and quickly showed signs that he had become an even better team player. Over the last year or so, Keith has shown that he has become not only a team player but a true leader. He treats this company as it is his own and is one of the first ones to step up and offer a hand or even some wisdom and knowledge to a driver in need. Keith was promoted to Heavy Department Supervisor this year and is excited to learn more about the day-to-day operations of the company.

​Keith is Wreckmaster Certified (Level 5) and will be going for his 6/7 certification within the next year.

Keith enjoys family, football, and fireworks. If you have enjoyed the fireworks on the 4th of July over the skies of Woodland Park, Colorado the last few years, you can thank Keith and his team!

Keith is a true asset to Knob Hill Towing and we are blessed to have him not only in our family, but also as part of our leadership team.

​Remember Keith the next time you approach a tow driver on the side of the road. Please move over or slow down; it could be Keith helping someone in need all the while thinking about his family whom he had to leave in the middle of a meal, wondering when they will see him again.
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