Rules Of The Road

SIOUX FALLS, SD - Even with sporadic winter0driving conditions, the Highway Patrol reminds drivers there are rules to keep in mind all year round.

Trooper Jeremy Gacke issues a warning to a woman on Interstate 29 for not moving over as she drove past a trooper with his lights on.  Gacke says traffic accidents happen so quickly and drivers don't know if the person in front of them is paying attention.

"It just takes the first person to react to the wrong way and then if everybody else is following too closely or whatever they may be doing that they don't have enough time to react to what that first person created," Gacke said.

Not only is it a safety pre-caution to move over when you see emergency responders or troopers on the right side of the road with their lights on, it's the law in South Dakota. 

Gacke says the three main rules of the road haven't changed. Drivers should slow down when road conditions are slick. They should look ahead to give themselves more time to react. And passing drivers should move to the farthest lane open.  But if they can't, they should slow down 20 miles per hour less than the speed limit.

"This seems to be a growing problem, not just in South Dakota but other parts of the country are seeing more law enforcement and emergency vehicles hit on the roadside because of people’s inaction or their distraction or whatever is causing them to not be aware of their environment," South Dakota Highway Patrol Captain Kevin Joffer said.

The Highway Patrol reminds drivers to slow down, look ahead and move over to keep everybody safe.