This fall first responders in the Columbia area are coming together to remind citizens to give them safe space to work on our roads and highways.
Members of the Columbia-Richland Fire Department, the Columbia Police Department, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and Richland County EMS joined forces with Richland County officials to promote the ‘Slow Down, Move Over’ campaign.’ The campaign is a nationwide public safety initiative promoting compliance with “move over” laws in all 50 states. These laws require drivers to slow down and change lanes when approaching an emergency vehicle with flashing lights stopped on or beside a roadway.
For firefighters, police officers and EMS crews working on the highway, having that crucial space can mean the difference between life and death.
“Ultimately that is what brought us together to collaborate on this public awareness campaign,” said Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins, “Whether it’s our firefighters taking care of motorists after a car wreck or police officers making traffic stops, we are all often on the roads with cars going at a high rate of speed. We can’t help others if you don’t help us, so please slow down and move over.”
Joint Press Conference For’Slow Down, Move Over’ Campaign – October 13, 2026
South Carolina’s “Move Over Law” requires drivers to slow down and change lanes when approaching a stopped, authorized vehicle with flashing lights, or to proceed with caution if a lane change is unsafe. Failure to do so can result in a misdemeanor violation punishable by a fine of $300 to $500.
According to the Emergency Responder Safety Institute, about 50 emergency responders are killed annually by vehicle strikes while responding to roadway incidents. The goal of the “Slow Down, Move Over” campaign is to reduce preventable fatalities and injuries to first responders and roadside workers.
