Wyoming Highway Patrol Warns Against Shoulder Stops

Officials urge drivers to avoid parking on highway shoulders following a surge in deadly crashes across the state.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Severe Weather

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a desolate high-altitude highway, evoking the danger of emergency stops on mountain roads. — The Wyoming Highway Patrol is urging drivers to avoid nonemergency stops on highway shoulders following a surge in fatal collisions. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you make it a rule to avoid stopping on highway shoulders unless it is an emergency?

The Wyoming Highway Patrol is warning motorists against making nonemergency stops on highway shoulders. This follows a spike in collisions involving parked vehicles that resulted in significant casualties.

Why it matters

Stopping on highway shoulders creates extreme risks for both motorists and traffic traveling at high speeds. These incidents frequently lead to severe collisions that endanger everyone on the road.

Official reports indicate 70 crashes occurred involving vehicles parked on highway shoulders and county roads. These incidents caused 6 deaths and 21 injuries over the recorded period.

The players

Wyoming Highway Patrol

This state agency is responsible for enforcing traffic laws and maintaining safety on public highways throughout Wyoming.

The details

Under Wyoming law, drivers are prohibited from parking on highway shoulders unless facing a mechanical breakdown, medical emergency, or during a traffic stop. The Highway Patrol advises motorists to continue to the nearest exit, rest area, or truck stop if they need to stop for nonemergency reasons.

The 70 reported shoulder crashes occurred between February 2025 and April 2026.
The Wyoming Highway Patrol issued the formal public warning on October 23, 2026.

Seasonal Patterns

These crashes underscore the critical safety focus within Wyoming traffic safety regulations regarding highway shoulder use. The recent spike in incidents marks a departure from standard road safety expectations in the state.

Drivers must prioritize safety by only stopping on shoulders during true emergencies and pulling as far to the right as possible. For nonemergency needs, always proceed to the nearest designated exit, rest area, or service station to avoid potential citations and dangerous collisions.

The takeaway

Highway shoulders are intended strictly for emergencies, not for convenience stops. Planning ahead for stops and using designated rest areas is a simple step that significantly reduces the risk of high-speed collisions.