Kansas Committee Hears Move‑Over Bill to Protect Disabled Vehicles; $75 Fine Proposed

The House Committee on Transportation heard testimony on Senate Bill 8 on Senate Bill 8 on a proposal that would require drivers to proceed with "due caution" and, where safe and practicable, change lanes when passing stationary vehicles displaying hazard lights, road flares or other caution signals.

Supporters said the measure would create a clear, statewide standard for motorists and noted a $75 fine placed in the bill's uniform fine schedule. "This bill is a two‑prong approach that would protect drivers stranded on the side of the road by disabled vehicles," said Travis Lowe of AAA Kansas. The committee chair said members plan to take final action on the bill at next week's meeting and encouraged placing the bill on the consent calendar.

Committee proponents, including the Kansas Department of Transportation and the Kansas Highway Patrol, framed the bill as a safety and messaging measure. Catherine Magana, legislative policy analyst for the Kansas Department of Transportation, said KDOT crash data for the state system from 2018 to 2023 showed nearly 1,000 crashes in which unoccupied vehicles on the shoulder were struck, resulting in eight fatalities and 25 serious injuries; an additional 82 crashes involved people inside vehicles on the shoulder and produced two fatalities and four serious…