A new website has gone live in the UK, which is promoting a change in the law with regard to vehicle recovery safety. www.slowdownmoveover.co.uk has been created.

The website was created to lobby for a law in the UK, which will force the Driving Standards Agency to change the driving test, to include a slow down and move over stance. The organisers of the site believe this will educate both new and old drivers about the risks involved, when emergency crews are working at the roadside

The campaigners say that many people are killed or seriously injured on Britain’s hard shoulders each year, as a result of drivers not giving emergency services room to work. They also say that the number of accidents can be greatly reduced if drivers simply slowed their speed and when safe to do so, move over into the 2nd carriageway, when they approach an emergency vehicle parked with its emergency lights illuminated. In this instance, recovery trucks and roadside assistance vehicles would be classed in the emergency category.

The site aims to have the subject debated in the houses of parliament, with a view to having legislation put in place. 100,000 signatures are needed by 3rd May 2013 to trigger the commons debate. The petition can be signed by non-UK residents.

With a large increase in the motorway network in Ireland in recent years, the adoption of a similar rule in Ireland would obviously be beneficial to the recovery industry here. The passing of UK legislation would highlight the issue and put pressure on Irish authorities to introduce similar rules.

The website address is www.slowdownmoveover.co.uk. Please support the campaign by signing the petition. It would also be great to see Irish operators starting a similar campaign.