New Move Over Law in South Dakota

When tow truck drivers, law enforcement officers, highway maintenance workers, and others are conducting work on the shoulder of our roadways, they can often be hard to see. Many times, they are beside their vehicles but out of sight. Other times, they could be in their vehicles occupying the shoulder at a slow rate of speed. 

This is why it is important to be alert and obey South Dakota’s newly updated Move Over Law. 

South Dakota’s new Move Over Law became effective as of Tuesday, July 1, 2025. The updated law now applies to all vehicles occupying the shoulder using amber, yellow, or blue warning lights.

If you encounter a slow-moving vehicle occupying the shoulder using amber, yellow, or blue warning lights, such as a SDDOT worker mowing the ditch or cleaning up trash on the roadside, you must move over and slow down! 

Below is an excerpt from the updated SDCL 32-31-6.1 (South Dakota’s Move Over Law):

“Upon approaching from any direction any vehicle that is either stopped or occupying the shoulder of the highway, and using amber, yellow, or blue warning lights, the driver of any other motor vehicle must:

•    If driving on an Interstate highway or other highway with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction as the vehicle, merge into the lane farthest from the vehicle at least three hundred feet before the vehicle and proceed with caution, unless otherwise directed.

•    If driving on a two-lane highway, at least three hundred feet before the vehicle, slow to a speed that is at least twenty miles per hour less than the posted speed limit or five miles per hour when the speed limit is posted at twenty miles per hour or less and proceed with caution, unless otherwise directed.”

The road is their office. Let’s do our part to make sure they go home safely at the end of their shift.

Visit https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/32-31-6.1 for additional information.