The “Move Over Law,” effective since January 2011, requires all drivers to change lanes when passing emergency crews or police that are pulled over on the shoulder.

While the law aims to protect others, hundreds of deaths still take place each year on the shoulder. And for state Department of Transportation employees, working on the side of the road can be one of the most dangerous parts of the job. Giving them space can be the difference between life and death.

"There are people in those work zones. Every man and woman in that work zone is somebody's son or daughter. Most of them are somebody's mother, father, sister, brother," said Scott Cook, the public information officer for region nine of the New York State Department of Transportation.

It hits especially close to home for Cook; just four years ago, Dennis Howe was killed when a driver drifted into the shoulder, hitting his vehicle at full speed. Cook came on the job just six months later.

"It was devastating. And he was beloved in the department. So many friends, so many people that had come since him that he took under his wing. It’s on everybody's mind now: ‘hey, all this guy was doing was his job and he's not here anymore,’ ” said Cook.

DOT drivers, along with emergency personnel, have been protected by the state’s “Move Over” law since 2011. Drivers must change lanes when passing them along the shoulder. But it’s a law not everyone abides by, and until recently, it only applied to emergency or construction personnel.

Thanks to a recent revision, though, the Move Over Law will now apply to all disabled vehicles, with the goal of preventing deadly crashes.

Nearly 300 drivers are struck and killed roadside every year, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office, and 37 people were killed outside disabled vehicles between 2016 and 2020.

"A work zone is not there to make you late for an appointment. A work zone is there to make the road safe for you. And we just would really appreciate that you respect the fact that those are real people working on making the roads safer for you,” said Cook.

Failing to move over could result in up to a $150 fine for a first offense, $300 for a second offense and $450 for a third.