Safety starts with you

GREEN BAY – Mayor Eric Genrich joined Green Bay Police Chief Chris Davis, Green Bay Fire Chief Matthew Knott, and Nick Jarmusz from AAA earlier this week to launch Crash Responder Safety Week, urging all motorists to protect first responders by slowing down and moving over when approaching roadside emergency scenes.

“These are really vulnerable situations for our personnel and for responders,” Genrich said. “We just really want to emphasize the importance of being safe on our roads and driving responsibly when you see a crash or accident happen.”

Crash Responder Safety Week, Nov. 17-21 is a federally sponsored initiative to raise awareness about the dangers facing traffic incident responders.

Genrich officially proclaimed November 17-21 as Crash Responder Safety Week in Green Bay, recognizing the critical work of law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, tow operators and highway maintenance crews who respond to traffic incidents.

“This is a national effort to protect the brave men and women who risk their lives on the roadway each and every day,” Knott said. “This year’s theme is ‘Safety starts with you: Slow down and move over.’ It’s a powerful reminder of how we can all work together to improve safety on our roadways… Here in Green Bay, we’re committed to ensuring that every one of our responders goes home safely.”

Many traffic incident management responders are seriously injured or killed each year while performing their duties because of being struck by speeding, impaired, drowsy or distracted motorists.

“Everyone who’s been a police officer or a firefighter or a first responder at a crash scene for any length of time knows what it’s like to have those close calls,” said Davis. “Nationwide, often the leading cause of death of police officers in the line of duty is traffic-related incidents, and very often that’s at a crash scene. Anybody who has been in this business any length of time at least knows someone who has had their car struck or they’ve been hit on the side of the road while helping at a crash scene or with a disabled vehicle. Especially as the weather starts to get bad and road conditions deteriorate, it’s extremely important for the safety of our personnel that you slow down and move over.

Wherever you’re going is not important enough to risk someone’s life.”

Wisconsin law requires all motorists to move over one lane away from emergency vehicles with activated warning lights when it is safe to do so.

If unable to move over due to traffic or road conditions, drivers must slow down significantly when passing emergency scenes.

Violations of Wisconsin’s Move Over law result in a $263.50 fine and three demerit points on a driver’s license.

If violations result in crashes, injuries, or death, penalties are much more severe and can include license suspension and criminal charges.

“Wisconsin’s Move Over law is very simple,” Knott said. “When you see our lights or any responder vehicle, move over a lane. And if that’s not possible, slow down. That simple act gives us space to work and be safe and the space that we need to save lives. It’s more than just a law. It’s really a life-saving choice.”