Ameren Missouri Reminds Motorists to Slow Down and Take Extra Care when Driving Alongside Utility Workers

With fall in full swing, drivers urged to exercise caution while on the road

Ameren Missouri reminds its customers to take extra safety precautions when encountering company vehicles and crew members on area roadways. As a critical service provider responsible for emergency power restoration and repairs, it is important motorists help keep utility crews safe by moving over and slowing down.

Missouri‘s Move Over Law requires drivers to slow down or change lanes when encountering utility crews - just like they're expected to do for other types of emergency or roadside crews.

“Anytime our workers are repairing damaged lines or downed utility poles, it comes with inherent safety risks,” said Matt Tosh, director of Ameren Missouri's Dorsett and St. Charles Operations. “Practicing safe driving when encountering Ameren crews can help reduce those risks so workers can remain focused on restoring our customers’ power as soon as possible.”

Nationally, hundreds of thousands of first responders, roadside workers, utility crews, construction personnel and other professionals face the risk of injury and death while doing their jobs on the road. According to AAA, an average of 24 emergency responders are killed each year while working roadside.

Move Over Laws exist in all 50 U.S. states to protect these individuals on highways and roadways across the country. When drivers fail to move over, the risk of accidents and injuries dramatically increases – both for responders and workers on the road as well as drivers and passengers. Emergency personnel, utility crews and roadside professionals need space to do their jobs safely and effectively and giving them room is both a legal and a social responsibility.