Iowa’s “Move Over” law requires drivers to change lanes or slow down to safely pass any vehicle with flashing lights when on the side of the road. While that obviously not only includes police, fire and other emergency vehicles, but also tow trucks and private vehicles with hazard lights flashing.

Iowa State Patrol Resource Officer Shelby McCreedy appreciates Iowans who move over even when they aren’t in the way.

“It’s habit, and that’s a good habit to have. If you see emergency lights coming, the best practice is to safely pull onto the shoulder, give that emergency vehicle as much room to get around you as possible. On some of our roadways in rural Iowa, there isn’t a whole lot of shoulder there, but even a couple of feet off the travel portion, a foot or two, it does help considerably to allow an emergency vehicle to pass.”

McCreedy adds that a concerning trend among all drivers has been the reluctance of using side and rear-view mirrors and recommends checking them regularly to make sure there aren’t any emergency vehicles behind them on the roadways.