Roughly 33,000 crashes happened along the shoulder of a road in 2024, and 578 of those collisions were deadly, according to federal traffic-safety materials. The City of Jackson, Tenn., Police Department spotlighted those numbers on Facebook on June 17, 2026, urging drivers to move over and slow down for stopped vehicles. The tally underscores a long-running roadside danger for stranded motorists, tow operators, and first responders working inches from highway traffic.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Traffic Safety Marketing page folds the 2024 totals into its national Move Over outreach, noting that every state has some version of a move-over law and offering ready-made materials for local agencies. According to Traffic Safety Marketing, the 2024 figures are used in campaigns aimed at cutting struck-by and other roadside crashes.
The Jackson Police Department echoed the federal warning on June 17, 2026, pressing drivers to "move over" for vehicles stopped on the shoulder, according to the Jackson Police Department. Posts like this are a familiar way for local agencies to translate national talking points into neighborhood newsfeeds and remind area drivers about lane-changing and slow-down requirements.
State Laws Vary, But Coverage Is Growing
Move Over statutes differ from state to state: some require drivers to clear a lane only for traditional emergency vehicles, while others explicitly extend protections to tow trucks, utility crews, and disabled cars on the shoulder. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, lawmakers in recent sessions have updated and expanded move-over rules, creating a patchwork of protections and penalties. That variation means drivers are better off learning the rules where they live instead of assuming hazard lights alone will trigger the same legal coverage everywhere.
Tennessee's Response And Penalties
State officials in Tennessee have strengthened move-over protections in recent years, and local reporting has highlighted what it looks like when drivers do not give space. As reported by WVLT, Tennessee law now requires drivers to leave a lane when it is safe or slow down, and violations can bring fines up to $2,500 and, in more extreme cases, jail time. The station's coverage includes firsthand accounts from troopers and firefighters who describe close calls and long recoveries after being struck on the shoulder.
What Drivers Should Do
If you see a vehicle stopped with flashing lights on the shoulder, the guidance is simple: change lanes away from the scene when it is safe to do so. If that is not possible, slow down and pass with caution. The U.S. DOT's Move Over campaign boils it down to a short command: "See lights. Move over. It is the law," and offers shareable graphics and messages for agencies that want to keep drivers paying attention. Those basic steps can cut the chance of a secondary crash that turns a frustrating breakdown into a fatal incident.
Why It Matters Locally
For drivers in West Tennessee and across the country, the 2024 numbers are a reminder that roadside stops are not minor delays. They are frequent locations for additional crashes. Tow operators, road crews, and police say consistent lane changes and slower speeds around stopped vehicles would prevent many of the roadside collisions reflected in last year's totals. Jackson's Facebook warning is one of many local reminders nudging drivers to treat that risk as more than just background scenery on the daily commute.
