With new laws taking effect Tuesday, one of those aims to create less crashes on highways. Namely, by keeping cars far from road workers, officers, and accidents.
The new move over law will require cars to slow down and move aside for any flashing light, including DoT officials, police pullovers, and tow trucks.
Gov. Larry Rhoden said it fits into his action plan after signing the bill.
“It was brought through the Legislature, I signed it, I think it was a good idea," Rhoden said. "I think it fits very well my pillars of ‘strong, safe, and free.’ I think it works to keep South Dakota safe.”
Prior, there was nothing in writing stopping a rubbernecker from eyeballing a car accident, not moving over, and buzzing past first responders at South Dakota highway speeds.
For Pennington County Sheriff’s Deputy Janae Olson, the bill will remove some scary experiences.
“We’ve had a couple of close calls where people aren’t moving over, they’re not slowing down, they’re distracted by the shiny lights," Olson said. "Even if people are slowing down, if you’re in a posted 65 mile an hour speed limit, people are moving over and still slowing down, it can still be pretty intimidating.”
While Olson said the law adds new protections for, say, a tow truck driver, it effectively changes little beyond common roadside courtesy.
“If you see the flashing lights, the ambers, the directionals, the tow truck on the side of the road, someone in a tractor mowing the lawn, you move over to the furthest lane," Olson said. "Then, if you don’t have that option on a two-lane road, you gotta slow down at least 300 feet before. You’ll slow down to 20 below the posted speed limit, and if its posted at 20 or below you’ll slow down to five.”
New South Dakota laws take effect July 1.