There are plenty of designated days, weeks and months meant to raise awareness and perhaps steer conversations toward finding solutions to some of our biggest challenges. For example, the third Saturday in October is National Move Over Day, according to a representative of AAA, who spoke with WCHS earlier this week.

Lori Weaver Hawkins told the news station “That gives us an added way to really educate the public and bring awareness to this issue.”

Most of us probably think we understand the law, and the safety implications for not following it, but Hawkins points out, “It’s not one of those slow down or move over sorts of things. If you’re moving over, you still need to slow down as well until you get past the incident. A lot of people just ignore that.”

Ignoring the rules continues to prove deadly in West Virginia and everywhere, as Beau Evans with the Governor’s Highway Safety Program told WCHS over the past five years there have been at least 2,000 people who have been struck and killed on roadways — including law enforcement, other first responders and drivers who have simply been forced to pull over to change a tire or because their car broke down.

When the AAA Foundation conducted a survey regarding the compliance with move over, slow down laws, it found 23% of drivers claimed they were unaware of the law and 42% admitted they don’t obey it, according to WCHS.

While it would be nice to think drivers would be educated about updates to the law and then follow it out of a sense of responsibility for the safety of fellow users of the road, it is important to remember there are also fines and possible jail time imposed for those caught ignoring the rules.

Move over — if you are able to do so safely; and slow down, when approaching a stationary vehicle with hazard or warning lights, flashers, flares or a reflective warning sign. That could be first responders, law enforcement, maintenance crews, disabled vehicles, tow trucks and more.

It’s the safe thing to do, it’s the right thing to do, and it could save a life.