Ohio Senate approves Slow Down to Get Around bill

The Ohio Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill (SB) 127 Oct. 25, 2017. The bill, known as Slow Down to Get Around (SDTGA), is designed to protect waste and recycling workers.

This effort was led by Sen. Frank LaRose (R), chairman of the Transportation, Commerce and Workforce Committee. The legislation now goes to the Ohio state House of Representatives for consideration.

The legislation would require motorists, when they approach a stationary vehicle displaying flashing, oscillating or rotating lights, to proceed with caution and yield the right-of-way by making a lane change or proceeding with due caution and reducing the speed of the vehicle, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions, if changing lanes would be unsafe or impossible. 

Slow Down to Get Around is a nationwide campaign by the National Waste and Recycling Association (NWRA), Arlington, Virginia, and its state chapters. In all states, NWRA encourages motorists to be aware of the roadside dangers facing waste and recycling collection workers.

“We applaud the Ohio Senate for putting the safety of our employees first. Our industry is dedicated to making it safer for our drivers and this legislation is an important step forward,” says Waste Management Senior Public Affairs Director Kathy Trent, who is based in Cincinnati.

The most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the waste and recycling collection occupation ranks fifth in the nation for fatal work injury rates. Recent data show that many accidents involving waste and recycling collection workers are caused by inattentive motorists or distracted driving.

“Currently 16 states that have enacted Slow Down to Get Around laws, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia. We are encouraged by the vote in the state senate that Ohio will become the 17th state,” Peggy Macenas, NWRA director for the Midwest region, says.