Effective July 1, Iowa motorists are required to treat utility vehicles with the same amount of caution as they would an emergency or law enforcement vehicle.

Iowa code now states that motorists must move over to the next available lane when they see a utility vehicle with flashing lights on the side of the road, or slow down and approach with caution. Several utility companies have joined to promote awareness of the “Move Over or Slow Down” law, including Alliant Energy.

Alliant Energy spokesperson Mike Wagner explains how this law will affect Iowans, “We think that this is just going to make that work environment a lot safer for everyone involved by saying to the drivers, if you see our crews by the side of the road and you have an extra lane of travel, move over into that extra lane of travel and give everybody a little extra room. And if that lane of travel isn’t there, then just slow down so that we all can have a little bit more time to react to what happens because sometimes when something happens unexpectedly it’s always better to have more time to react.”

When electric crews are working beside roads, a vehicle accident can not only endanger crew members but also create hazardous situations, “If they’re out there working to restore electricity to an area. Any kind of injury is going to put our crew’s lives in danger but then also create dangerous situations if that person happens to collide with one of our trucks and one of the poles we’re working on. Because we always tell folks when there’s lines down to stay away from them, so we’re really looking at this as a great opportunity to avoid as many dangerous situations as possible.”

This law pertains to all utility vehicles, garbage, tow, and bucket trucks. Alliant Energy and other utility companies are asking Iowa motorists to sign the Move Over pledge at www.MoveOverIowa.com.