By admin 
PHOENIX — The first responders who rush to the scene of an accident often help save lives. The agencies that answer our emergency calls remind us that they are also at risk.
“We had a soldier, Tim Huffman, who was killed,” said Sergeant Eric Andrews of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. “He was still in his vehicle, but he was killed by a driver who wasn’t paying attention.”
About ‘Crash Responder Safety Week’, Road safety officials share what drivers would like to take into account when they pass the scene of an accident.
The Department of Health says that between 2017 and 2023, 10 Arizona first responders were struck and killed by vehicles.
Sergeant Andrews says officers often see drivers distracted by crash scenes.
“Don’t pick up your phone and try to take pictures or videos of it,” Andrews said. “Just try to reach your destination.”
In addition to law enforcement, the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Incident Response Team also works to clear the roadway after an accident.
They say simple measures are enough to keep drivers safe.
“The most important thing is that if you see emergency lights, just slow down,” said Michael Lang with ADOT.
There are over 283 accidents involving first responders at crash scenes since 2020, according to ADOT.
Arizona’s ‘move over’ law requires drivers to move into one lane when they see flashing lights. If you cannot cross safely, you should drive more slowly.
The law was changed in 2021 to increase the penalty for first-time offenders to $275.