Move over for lineworkers

Learn why the distracted driving danger is growing and what can be done to prevent tragedy

When lineworkers are perched in a bucket truck repairing power lines along a busy road, they have good reason to be concerned about their safety. However, in addition to working with high voltages, one of their biggest worries is also the most unpredictable: a distracted driver slamming into their vehicle or a power pole.

According to the National Safety Council, 891 people were killed and 37,701 people were injured in work zone crashes during 2022. Most of those crashes occur in construction sites, which are usually well-marked. Electric co-op crews are likely to face even greater danger, as they are often working alone along remote stretches of roads, frequently in heavy rain or other adverse weather conditions that can reduce their visibility.

The danger of work zone crashes led every state to adopt “move over” laws which require drivers to lower their speed and switch lanes when possible to protect emergency vehicles. The goal is to provide an added safety buffer and minimize the potential for accidents. Drivers caught violating the laws can face penalties and significant fines.

Compounding this issue is the dramatic increase in distracted driving. The National Transportation Highway Safety Administration has reported as many as 1,000 Americans are injured each day because of activities taking drivers’ attention away from the road. The most common is reading and responding to text messages.

Geography can also be a factor. Co-ops serving rural and remote areas often have power lines along twisty and hilly roads. Locals accustomed to driving those roads at fairly high speeds may be startled when they encounter a work crew on a hill or around a curve.

Sometimes, a little bit of extra attention is all that’s needed to prevent a serious incident. Next time you hit the road, remember to move over. It’s not only the law, but you could be saving a life.

Did you know May is National Electric Safety Month? Visit Wired up for Safety to learn more about your local cooperative’s electric public safety efforts and planned events.

• Cotton—May 10
• Northwestern—May 22
• Northeast Oklahoma—June 7
• Oklahoma—May 17
• Choctaw—May 22