In an effort to protect those who protect us, Nov. 13-17 has been declared as "Crash Responder Safety Week" in Kentucky.

Emergency responders and public safety personnel put their lives at risk daily. You are reminded to slow down and move over to help keep them safe.

Kentucky passed its "Move Over" law in 2003, requiring motorists to move over to the adjacent lane when approaching an emergency, or public safety vehicle with flashing lights. If changing lanes is impossible or unsafe, motorists must slow down and use caution. Failure to do so can result in fines, jail time, or both.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray says, “While some drivers may believe that moving over is just a courtesy, it is not – it’s the law. Remember to stay alert, slow down, and move over.”

The law protects all first responders, including law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, safety service patrols, and towing vehicles.

Unfortunately, first responders are injured or killed every year by drivers who fail to move over. In Kentucky over the past three years, crashes involving emergency vehicles in response to an incident resulted in more than 1,000 collisions, more than 360 injuries, and five deaths.

All 50 states have enacted “Move Over” laws.