AAA data for National Move Over Day shows roadside crashes in Kentucky last year involved workers, with 12 deaths

National Move Over Day on October 16 spotlighted the risk roadside workers face in traffic crashes, with AAA citing Kentucky-specific figures showing how often workers are struck while working along roadways. AAA said there were 200 crashes in Kentucky last year that involved people working on the side of the road or alongside moving traffic.

The auto club also reported that those crashes in Kentucky resulted in 12 deaths, underscoring the potential consequences for crews and responders who may be managing breakdowns, maintenance, or emergencies in active travel lanes. AAA did not specify the types of roadside work in its summary, but tied the figures directly to the dangers faced by workers on the shoulder and adjacent lanes.

AAA’s emphasis on National Move Over Day reflects a longstanding public safety message for drivers to adjust their driving when they approach stationary vehicles on roadways. In its Kentucky-focused briefing, the group urged motorists to use caution and follow move-over rules as they encounter roadside activity, aiming to reduce sudden impacts that can occur when cars do not create space around crews.

The Kentucky figures come at a time when roadway traffic patterns can increase the number of times drivers pass work zones, pull-offs, and emergency scenes. When crashes involve roadside workers, the impacts extend beyond the individuals struck, affecting families and disrupting services that rely on safety and repair operations to keep roads usable.

AAA’s reported statewide totals provide a scale for the problem, with 200 crashes and 12 deaths tied to incidents involving workers positioned on the roadside or along traffic. The auto club framed the data as a call for drivers to treat roadside activity as a protection and safety issue, not only a driver convenience issue.

For Kentucky communities, the stakes include continuity of road maintenance and emergency response. Road crews and public-safety personnel often work in close proximity to moving traffic, sometimes in adverse conditions, and the threat of being struck can influence how quickly incidents are addressed and how safely services can be provided.

AAA said it is using National Move Over Day to encourage safer driving around roadside work and emergency scenes. The group’s message to motorists centers on slowing and making room for workers consistent with Kentucky’s move-over requirements, as officials continue to stress that driver behavior is a key factor in preventing crashes.