Near Miss
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Slow Down Move Over (SDMO) Calls Attention to Near-Miss Incident on I-75 in Marietta, Georgia
As we approach the New Year, the United States has already recorded 35 struck-by deaths in 2025 involving roadside responders. These are not accidents—they are preventable tragedies.
Last night, SDMO founder and heavy-duty recovery operator Paul Libri experienced a near-fatal incident while working a disabled tractor trailer on Interstate 75 in Marietta, Georgia.
While safely positioned under the tractor trailer disconnecting a drive shaft, Libri heard horns blaring from live traffic lanes. A vehicle attempting to exit nearly collided with another vehicle—despite the exit being approximately three-quarters of a mile away from the incident scene. Had a collision occurred, both vehicles would have struck the tractor trailer Libri was underneath.
At the time of the incident:
• Emergency triangles and cones were properly deployed
• The tow truck’s rotators and directional arrow stick were active, directing traffic left
• The roadway was straight, illuminated, and free of weather hazards
• Traffic volume was light
There was zero justification for a vehicle to remain in the right lane.
“This is exactly what we warn about every single day,” said Libri. “This was not poor visibility, bad weather, or confusion. This was a choice. And that choice nearly cost a life.”
SDMO stresses that roadway responders—including tow operators, law enforcement, fire, EMS, and DOT personnel—are dying not from lack of warnings, but from lack of driver accountability.
Move Over laws exist for a reason. Ignoring them is not a mistake—it’s reckless behavior with deadly consequences.
Slow Down Move Over urges drivers nationwide to:
• Change lanes away from emergency and service vehicles when possible
• Slow down significantly if unable to move over
• Stay alert and put distractions away
No one working on the roadside should have to rely on luck to make it home.
Enough warnings. Enough funerals. Move Over.
Contact:
Slow Down Move Over (SDMO)
Media Inquiries: slowdownmoveoversdmo@gmail.com
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#StruckByIsNotAccidental
#FirstResponders
#TrafficIncidentManagement
#MakeItHome
#MoveOverItsTheLaw
#slowdownmoveover
#moveoverlaw
#towoperator
#nearmiss
#towlivesmatter
#thinyellowline
#thinwhiteline
Working in roadside safety myself, I've witnessed firsthand how crucial it is for drivers to adhere to Move Over laws. Even when all safety measures like cones, emergency triangles, and directional arrows are properly in place—as was the case during the near miss on I-75 in Marietta—there are still drivers who recklessly remain in the right lane, jeopardizing lives. This isn’t about poor visibility or bad weather; it’s about conscious decisions behind the wheel. The Move Over laws are designed to protect tow operators, law enforcement, EMS, fire personnel, and DOT workers by requiring drivers to change lanes or reduce speed when approaching roadside incidents. Unfortunately, as the incident involving a disabled tractor trailer showed, a single distracted or irresponsible driver can cause a near-fatal accident, highlighting the thin margin—often called the thin yellow or white line—between life and death on our roads. I remember one particular case when, despite clear signals and warnings, a driver failed to move over, and a tow operator barely escaped injury. That experience reinforced for me the importance of driver awareness and the grave consequences of negligence. It’s also why campaigns like Slow Down Move Over (SDMO) and hashtags like #TowLivesMatter are vital—they push the conversation and encourage safer driving culture. For anyone driving near emergency vehicles, the steps are simple but life-saving: change lanes away from the hazard if possible, slow down significantly if you can’t move over, and eliminate distractions such as mobile phones. No one working on the roadside should have to rely on luck to survive their shift. By actively choosing to comply with Move Over laws, drivers not only protect roadside responders but also help ensure their own safety and the safety of everyone on the road. This collective responsibility can significantly reduce the preventable ‘struck-by’ deaths increasingly recorded across the country. Let’s keep this conversation alive and advocate for driver accountability—because every near miss could be a close call with tragedy, and every life saved is worth the effort.