A new law will be taking effect in which drivers will be required to switch lanes in Kansas under specific conditions. Kansas’ Governor, Laura Kelly, signed into action Senate Bill 8 in early April. Senate Bill 8 will require drivers to change lanes when they pass a disabled vehicle that is on the side of the road. Before reaching Governor Kelly, the bill was unanimously passed by Kansas’ states Senate and House chambers.

A disabled vehicle would be a vehicle on the side of the road, likely with their hazard lights on.

Under the new law, if you are in the lane closest to a disabled vehicle, you must change lanes if safely able to do so. If you are not able to safely change lanes, you must at least slow down. In a two lane highway, you are only expected to slow down. This applies to any vehicle stopped showing some sign of non-operation. In addition to hazard lights, the vehicle may have road flares, traffic cones, reflective triangles, or caution signs surrounding it.

This law change is meant to improve road safety when disabled cars are involved.

Prior to the House Committee on Transportation held their vote, Travis Lowe, a government affairs representative, wrote a testimony in support of the bill. His testimony came on behalf of the AAA Kansas branch. Lowe’s testimony expressed how it is essential for a law like this as the drivers and passengers of the disabled vehicle are at risk otherwise, as are drivers on the road still.

He argued that Kansas has a law that provides protection for emergency vehicles, tow trucks, utility vehicles, and maintenance vehicles. This law requires drivers to “slow down or move over.” He and other Senate Bill 8 supporters felt the same protection was worthy for disabled vehicles. In the testimony, he stated how it may seem “common sense but sadly… we have seen the consequences,” of not having explicit laws requiring this action.

Lowe gave statistics supporting his argument.

From 2018 to 2023, there were at least 10 deaths in collisions that involved a person on the side of the road due to a disabled vehicle. There were a number of other collisions that occurred that did not involve fatalities, but still were dangerous, nonetheless. There was an average of 200 crashes a year.

Many Kansans have reported seeing disabled vehicles frequently on the side of the road. Most stated they also saw close calls, witnessing near collisions due to drivers not slowing down or changing lanes. Governor Kelly hopes to reduce this as the law takes effect. Drivers who are seen violating this new action could face a fine of at least $75.