🚨 Tow Operator Hit on I-24 Urges Drivers to Know Tennessee's Move Over Law

A worker for Doug Yates Towing was struck while responding to a call on I-24 near Chattanooga, prompting an urgent reminder about a safety law many drivers don’t know exists. The incident underscores a gap between what the law requires and what drivers actually practice on busy regional highways.

📋 What Tennessee’s Move Over Law Requires

Tennessee law mandates that drivers move over one full lane when approaching vehicles with flashing lights-including tow trucks, police cars, TDOT vehicles, and construction crews. If moving over isn’t possible due to traffic, drivers must slow down at least 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit. 🚗

On I-24, where the speed limit is 70 mph, that means slowing to 50 mph when passing a tow truck with lights activated. On roads where the limit is 20 mph or less, drivers must reduce speed to 5 mph. Violations carry a $500 fine.

⚠️ The Real-World Impact

The tow operator who was hit reported that most drivers who passed said they didn’t know the law existed. That knowledge gap is dangerous: according to the PSA shared, a tow operator is struck in the United States every six days. 💔

“That 20 mph is what gets us home,” the operator wrote, framing the law not as bureaucracy but as a lifeline for roadside workers and first responders who face constant traffic hazards.

🛣️ Why It Matters on I-24

Interstate 24 is a major corridor connecting the Chattanooga metro area to surrounding regions, carrying heavy traffic daily. Tow trucks, emergency responders, and maintenance crews work this stretch regularly, often in unpredictable conditions. When drivers fail to move over or slow down, they put these workers at serious risk. ⚡

The law applies to all vehicles with flashing lights-not just police. Many drivers assume the rule only applies to law enforcement, leaving tow operators, utility workers, and construction crews vulnerable.

💡 What Drivers Should Do

When you see flashing lights ahead on any highway:

• Move over one full lane if traffic and road conditions allow it safely.
• If you can’t move over, reduce your speed by 20 mph below the posted limit (or to 5 mph on roads with limits of 20 mph or less).
• Stay alert to workers and equipment near the roadside.

The operator’s message was simple but direct: “On I-24, flashing lights means someone’s dad, brother, son is working. Move Over. Let us go home.” 🏠