Nebraska Urges Drivers to Slow Down, Move Over
Crash Responder Safety Week highlights the state's updated Move-Over Law as at least 26 first responders have been killed nationwide in 2026.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Emergency Response
Live Poll
Do you consistently slow down and move over when you see emergency lights ahead?
The Nebraska Department of Transportation is highlighting driver responsibilities during Crash Responder Safety Week, which began Nov. 2, 2026. The campaign, under the theme "Slow Down, Move Over. Lives are on the Line," comes as at least 26 first responders across the country have been struck and killed while responding to traffic incidents this year.
Why it matters
Nebraska's Move-Over Law was updated in September 2025 through LB 530 to require drivers to slow down and move over for all stopped vehicles and vulnerable road users on the side of the highway. The reminder targets drivers across the state as responders work roadside crashes.
The Emergency Responder Safety Institute reports at least 26 first responders struck and killed nationally in 2026, roughly one per week on average. NDOT's Traffic Incident Management program has set a goal of training 1,000 responders each year, and it is not yet clear how many of the 2026 deaths occurred in Nebraska.
The players
Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT)
The state agency that runs the Traffic Incident Management program, which trains first responders in standardized best practices for detecting, responding to and clearing crashes.
Federal Highway Administration
The federal agency that sponsored Crash Responder Safety Week as a national initiative when it launched in 2016.
Emergency Responder Safety Institute
An organization that tracks and reports deaths of first responders struck while responding to traffic incidents.
The details
Drivers who reduce speed and move into a different lane when responders are working on the roadside reduce the risk of death and injury from secondary crashes. The updated Move-Over Law covers pedestrians, bicyclists, people in crosswalks, and agricultural vehicles or equipment, in addition to stopped vehicles.
Timeline
2016: Crash Responder Safety Week launched as a national initiative sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration.
September 2025: Nebraska's Move-Over Law was updated with the passage of LB 530.
November 2-6, 2026: Crash Responder Safety Week is observed this year, beginning Nov. 2.
Seasonal Patterns
Nebraska's Move-Over Law, updated through LB 530 in September 2025, now covers pedestrians, bicyclists, and agricultural vehicles in addition to stopped vehicles. Crash Responder Safety Week, which began as a Federal Highway Administration initiative in 2016, returns this November as the state presses drivers to apply the expanded rules.
Drivers should slow down and move into a different lane when they see stopped vehicles, responders, or people on the roadside. Nebraska's updated Move-Over Law applies to pedestrians, bicyclists, people in crosswalks, and agricultural vehicles or equipment as well.
The takeaway
Slowing down and moving over when responders are on the roadside is a simple habit that can prevent secondary crashes and save lives. Drivers across Nebraska can apply the updated law's rules on every trip.
Further reading
For related coverage, explore more Emergency Response stories on Wisevoter.
Live Poll
Do you consistently slow down and move over when you see emergency lights ahead?
