# Protecting Roadside First Responders Act

This bill is designed to protect emergency workers who stop on the side of roads to help people. It addresses a real safety problem: firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and tow truck operators are frequently hit by passing vehicles while they're working roadside emergencies like car accidents, medical calls, or disabled vehicles.

The bill likely requires drivers to slow down and move over when they see emergency vehicles with lights flashing on the roadside. Many states already have "move over" laws like this, but this federal legislation probably establishes or strengthens these protections nationwide. The goal is simple: give first responders more space and time to do their jobs safely without worrying about being struck by oncoming traffic. For drivers, this means paying attention to flashing lights ahead, reducing speed, and changing lanes when it's safe to do so—actions that could literally save someone's life.

This affects anyone who drives on public roads, since you'd need to follow these rules whenever you encounter emergency personnel working on the roadside. It also protects the thousands of first responders across the country who face real danger every time they step out of their vehicles to help someone in need. By making roadside work safer, the bill aims to reduce injuries and deaths among the people we depend on in emergencies.

Protecting Roadside First Responders Act

Durbin, Richard J.

Protecting Roadside First Responders Act This bill addresses transportation matters relating to Move Over laws and crash avoidance technology. Move Over laws are intended to ensure first responder and motorist safety by requiring motorists to change lanes or slow down when approaching an authorized emergency vehicle that is parked or otherwise stopped on a roadway. Specifically, the bill requires <ul> <li>the Department of Transportation (DOT) to contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to produce research findings on the efficacy of Move Over laws and related public awareness campaigns;</li> <li>DOT to award grants to states to prevent death and injury from crashes involving vehicles striking vehicles and individuals stopped at the roadside;</li> <li>DOT to implement rules to establish minimum performance standards with respect to crash avoidance technology and to require mandating crash avoidance technology on all new passenger and commercial motor vehicles; and</li> <li>all federal fleet vehicles to have crash avoidance technology and, if such vehicles are used for emergency response activities, be equipped with digital alert technology.</li> </ul>