November 17-21, 2025, is Crash Responder Safety Week. This year’s theme is, “Safety Starts with You – Slow Down and Move Over!”
Arizona recorded 38,493 injury and fatal traffic-related crashes (~ 3% fatal and 97% injury) in 2024, placing thousands of highway incident first responders (EMS, fire, law enforcement, towing/recovery, and transportation/public works providers) at risk of being struck-by and killed or injured by motorists.
From 2017 through September 2025 across the U.S., 320 highway incident responders were struck-by and killed at roadside incidents, of which 10 (3 in 2019, 1 in 2020, 6 in 2021) were Arizona responders. From 2018 to 2024, Arizona recorded 158 non-fatal struck-by crashes involving highway incident responders. While 10 (~ 6%) of the 168 Arizona struck-by incidents were fatal, the 158 non-fatal crashes often resulted in career-ending, life altering injuries to responders.
There is something every driver can do today to act and save lives of first responders and other roadway users. The Arizona Department of Public Safety explains Arizona’s Move Over Law as, “having drivers safely merge to an adjacent lane on highways with two or more lanes proceeding in the same direction when police or emergency personnel are stopped near or on the road. The law recognizes that sometimes it is impossible or the second lane does not exist to move over. Those situations call for reduced speeds and proceeding with extreme caution.”
Violating Arizona’s Move Over Law is a moving violation, with insurance and driver license point consequences. Civil penalties include: first violation $275, a second violation within 5 years $500, and a third or subsequent violations $1,000.
This November 17-21, 2025, the Bureau of EMS & Trauma System stands in solidarity with our first responders and with Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, who has issued a proclamation designating this week as Crash Responder Safety Week (CRSW). In observance of CRSW, all roadway users are reminded that safety starts with you, by slowing down and moving over as you approach and past responders at roadside incidents.
This Crash Responder Safety Week, the Bureau of EMS and Trauma System encourages every traffic incident responder to:
- Take the free, four-hour National Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Responder Training available from the Federal Highway Administration to protect you and your fellow responders.
- Encourage your fellow Arizona responders to join the over 11,400 Arizona responders who have already completed TIM Responder training by signing up or requesting a free TIM class at https://tim.az.gov/home
Thank you to all Arizona crash responders for your work to protect Arizona’s residents and visitors every day.
