SENATORS MCCORMICK, CORTEZ MASTO PUSH TO PROTECT FIRST RESPONDERS AND ROADSIDE WORKERS

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) recently introduced the bipartisan Safe Roads for Those Who Serve Act to protect first responders and roadside workers as they do their jobs on roads and highways. This legislation would enhance strategies to help reduce the risk of injury or death faced by law enforcement officers, emergency medical services, fire and rescue services, tow truck drivers, construction workers, and other roadside workers.

Nationwide, since 2020, more than 500 roadside workers have been killed doing their jobs on the side of the road. Many were tow truck operators, construction workers, and law enforcement officers. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation data reveals more than1,250 work zone crashes occurred in 2024, resulting in 22 deaths that included both workers and drivers. Additionally, 45 percent of Pennsylvania work zone crashes in 2024 contained fatalities or injuries.

"Every day in Pennsylvania and across the country, law enforcement officers, EMS crews, and roadside workers put themselves in harm's way-often just feet from speeding traffic-to keep the rest of us safe," said Senator McCormick. "This bipartisan effort will improve data collection, strengthen public awareness, and prioritize safety in infrastructure projects from the start-helping protect those who protect us."

"Over the past fifty years, America has worked to make roads safer for drivers and pedestrians, but we still have work to do to protect those whose jobs regularly put them on the side of the road," said Senator Cortez Masto. "First responders and roadside workers risk death or injury every single day while responding to an emergency or maintaining our roads. I'm proud to lead this bipartisan effort to help keep them safe."

In order to protect first responders and roadside workers, the Safe Roads for Those Who Serve Act would:

· Require states to improve data collection and analysis of highway worker injuries and fatalities and create a highway worker safety plan if the total number of injuries and fatalities increases over a 2-year period;

· Create a new Public Awareness Campaign to fully reflect the dangers all roadside workers face along our roadways and how the public can help protect them;

· Continue research and outreach efforts to enhance the safety of highway workers; and

· Require major infrastructure grant applicants to include protections expected to aid roadside workers and driving public safety during and after construction in their grant application.

The Safe Roads for Those Who Serve Act is supported by the Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA), the Association of General Contractors, the National Safety Council, the American Automobile Association (AAA), the National Association of State EMS Officials, the National Waste and Recycling Association, American Traffic Safety Services, the Major County Sheriffs of America, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Modern Analytics for Roadway Safety (MARS) Coalition.

"Towing and recovery professionals put their lives on the line every day to help motorists, protect first responders, and keep commerce flowing," said Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA) Executive Director Bruce Bender. "Despite the fact that, on average, statistics show we lose a tower every seven days, the risk to the lives of these dedicated professionals is often overlooked. Slow Down, Move Over laws need to be promoted and publicized because they are proven to save lives. We are deeply grateful that Senators McCormick and Cortez-Masto have introduced the Safe Roads for Those Who Serve Act and have expressly included towing truck operators in promotion of the initiatives that protect them. TRAA proudly supports this legislation."

Read the full bill text here.

###