Social Media #moveover Campaign Reinforces Scott's Law in Illinois

Strategic Insights -

As the National Safety Council's National Safety Month comes to a close, Illinois American Water is reminding motorists to move over for safety, highlighting the importance of Scott's Law and the dangers of not doing so. Throughout June, the company featured employees on its Facebook page through the #moveover campaign, sharing stories and statistics about the law. Scott's Law, 625 ILCS 5/11-907(c), requires all motorists to move over when encountering stopped or disabled vehicles displaying warning lights.

Key Takeaways:

  • Scott's Law is a mandatory move over law in Illinois, requiring motorists to move over when encountering stopped or disabled vehicles displaying warning lights.
  • The law was named in honor of Scott Gillen, a Chicago Fire Department member who was struck and killed by a drunk driver while assisting at a crash on a Chicago Expressway.
  • When approaching a stationary emergency vehicle, Illinois motorists must slow down, drive with caution, move over to another lane, and reduce speed if changing lanes is unsafe.
  • Laron Cole, a field service representative in Illinois American Water's Granite City service area, participated in the company's #moveover campaign, emphasizing the importance of moving over for the safety of utility workers and motorists.
  • Illinois American Water employees understand the work they do can cause temporary inconvenience and disrupt traffic, but they work as quickly and safely as possible to restore services and return roadways to normal.
  • At the end of the day, the company's goal is to get home safely, and moving over is crucial for achieving this goal.

Statistics:

  • Since 2000, all fifty states have enacted some form of a "Move Over" law.
  • Illinois expanded the "Move Over" requirements to motorists with their hazard lights activated along highways.
  • American Water serves more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations.
  • Illinois American Water provides safe, clean, reliable, and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 1.3 million people.

Sources:

  • Illinois American Water
  • American Water
  • Businesswire.com
  • National Safety Council