TOPEKA (KSNT) – Changes made to a Kansas traffic law are in effect and having a big impact on travelers in the Sunflower State this year.
Numerous laws became effective on July 1, 2025, including the newly revamped ‘Move Over‘ law passed by the Kansas Legislature in the spring. The law is meant to help protect first responders and others who are involved in crashes or experiencing car trouble on the side of the road.
Senate bill 8 specifies that drivers are required to move with caution when passing stationary vehicles that are displaying hazard warning lights. Drivers on highways that have two or more lanes heading in the same direction must, if possible, change lanes into a lane which is not next to that of the stationary vehicle.
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April McCollum with the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) told 27 News the new Move Over law is added into existing statutes that will grant an additional layer of protection to troopers, law enforcement, firefighters, two truck operators and others who respond to emergency situations on the road. She said drivers are encouraged to keep an eye out for hazard lights on the road and move over to protect highway workers and others who are at a stop.
“Kansas Highway Patrol troopers can attest to the danger encountered daily when working on the side of the road,” McCollum said. “A matter of feet and inches can be the difference between a safe traffic stop and serious injury by a passing vehicle.”
The new law also specifies that drivers should move over if they see road flares, caution signals or traffic cones that appear near a stopped vehicle. Drivers who violate the new Move Over law may be subject to a $75 fine for the traffic violation.
“Moving over and slowing down for disabled vehicles are small actions that can make a huge difference,” said Kate Craft replying on behalf of the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). “Governor Kelly’s expansion of the Move Over Law is a great step forward in protecting the lives of all road users. By expanding the law to include a wider range of vehicles and roadside situations, we’re helping to create a safer environment for those stranded on the side of the road and all travelers. Together, we can reach our goal of zero crashes and zero fatalities on Kansas roads.”
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