WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police are concerned with the safety of law enforcement officers, firefighters, utility workers, and other emergency personnel as they perform their duties on roadways; and

WHEREAS, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, over the last 10 full calendar years, 81 law enforcement officers, 16% of all “United States officers accidentally killed” were victims of struck-by-vehicle incidents, i.e., at the time of their deaths they were conducting traffic stops, roadblocks, directing traffic or assisting motorists, or were engaged in similar activities; and

WHEREAS, 12 of 27 officers who have been “accidentally killed” in 2019 were killed in vehicle struck-by- incidents;

WHEREAS, in an effort to safeguard law enforcement officers, firefighters, utility workers, and other emergency personnel whose duties require them to utilize the roadside, all 50 states have enacted Move Over legislation that typically requires motorists to either change lanes or slow down when approaching a law enforcement or emergency services vehicle that is parked or stopped on the roadside; and

WHEREAS, the effectiveness of this legislation in every state is compromised by motorists’ being unaware of the existence of these statutes, as is demonstrated by a national poll sponsored by the National Safety Commission, in 2007, that found that 71% of U.S. residents had not heard of such legislation. Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police support the increased enforcement of Move Over legislation; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police support international efforts to ensure the roadside safety of law enforcement officers, firefighters, utility workers, and other emergency personnel in countries around the world.

Submitted by: Highway Safety Committee

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