Illinois American Water Reminds Motorists to Move Over for Safety

Social Media #moveover Campaign Reinforces Scott’s Law

As the National Safety Council’s National Safety Month ends, Illinois American Water reminds motorists to move over for safety. Throughout June, Illinois American Water employees were featured on the company’s Facebook page through the social media #moveover campaign. Posts highlighted Scott’s Law and the importance of moving over for law enforcement, emergency, utility and other vehicles displaying warning lights.

Scott's Law, 625 ILCS 5/11-907(c), is a mandatory move over law in the state of Illinois. The law requires all motorists to move over when encountering stopped or disabled vehicles displaying warning lights. Since 2000, all fifty states have enacted some form of a “Move Over” law. Illinois expanded the “Move Over” requirements to motorists with their hazard lights activated along highways. Scott’s Law was named in honor of Scott Gillen of the Chicago Fire Department who was struck and killed by a drunk driver while assisting at a crash on a Chicago Expressway. When approaching a stationary emergency vehicle that is displaying or flashing warning lights, Illinois motorists must:

• Slow down
• Drive with caution
• Move over to another lane
• Reduce speed if changing lanes is unsafe

When entering a highway construction area, Illinois law requires motorists to:

• Slow down
• Discontinue wireless use
• Yield or change lanes away from any authorized vehicles or workers in the area

Laron Cole, a field service representative in Illinois American Water’s Granite City service area, participated in the company’s #moveover campaign to remind motorists that behind every utility worker are loved ones who want them to return home safely at the end of each day. Cole said, “We understand the work we do can cause temporary inconvenience and disrupt traffic. That’s why we work as quickly and safely as possible to restore services and return roadways to normal. We never take shortcuts which could compromise safety. Our friends and neighbors can help by slowing down and moving over when they see us working.”

He added “Moving over doesn’t just protect us—it also protects motorists. At the end of the day, we all share the same goal: to get home safely.”

To learn more about Illinois American Water’s commitment to safety, please visit illinoisamwater.com.

About American Water

American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,700 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.

For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

About Illinois American Water

Illinois American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the state, providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 1.3 million people. American Water also operates a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville.

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Moving over doesn’t just protect us—it also protects motorists. At the end of the day, we all share the same goal: to get home safely.