According to the latest numbers from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, New York state averages eight fatal crashes along its roadways every year, and four include road workers, from police to emergency personnel.

AAA cites national statistics that on average, there is a fatal incident on America's highways every other week, and 24 incidents a year, on average. When you also factor in that, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that more than 70% of Americans know about laws. It's an avoidable state of affairs.

"Motorists need to be aware of their actions," said NYSP Troop T Captain Jason Haag. "And it's not just law enforcement, but emergency, medical personnel, fire, tow truck drivers..."

Haag's emphasis is on road safety for all, but he needs drivers to understand the law. The first part is if you see emergency services or flashing lights on the side of the road, you have to make your best effort to get into the at least two lanes away. And Haag says that much is being adhered to.

"Some people don't understand or obey the law. And sometimes traffic tickets are issued for that, but for what I see out here, generally people are obeying the law and it's making the roadway safer for everyone," he said.

The part of the law that is putting more people at risk is the latter half, which requires you to slow down to 20 miles an hour if you can’t safely get over, or else you may be seeing a trooper in the rearview.

"Slow down. Put your signal on, and if you can't move over safely, just maintain your lane and continue on," said Haag.

The more people understand and adhere to the law and its practices makes it like day and night for Randy Yeager.

"When my wife is awake when I leave in the evening, I always get an 'I love you' and 'be careful' every time," Yager said.

A tow driver with decades of experience, he’s got a list of things he needs to assess when he arrives on a scene.

"The vehicle damage, how many patrons I have on hand, is the road closed or not," he listed. "That's the priority. You know the first first order of business is absolute safety."

He’s all too familiar with friends and colleagues who have been part of the statistics on New York’s highways and even municipal roads. Like many, he’s got his own horror stories.

"About eight years ago, I had a close call with this very same truck out in the Thruway. A Jeep Cherokee literally ramped on my tow truck and was perpendicular by the time it was done crashing into the barriers and ramping up this truck," Yager said. "It was perpendicular with its back end up on the Jersey barrier and the front end into my toolbox and battery box on this truck. It was a very close call."

Yager noted he sees more people moving over and the sense of safety is growing for many who go to work on the pavement. It doesn’t mean more can’t be done, though.

"Just consider this. You know, being on the side of this truck right here, operating the controls. While a tractor trailer or a car is singing by you at 70-75 miles per hour," said Yager. "I would never want to put my head down at night. Knowing that, all I had to do was move my vehicle over to avoid hurting someone, minor, major injury or fatality, either way."

The penalty for violations of the law start at $150 with two points on the line for your license. They grow significantly with repeat offenses or injuries caused.