Tommy'sRoad RescueCall live dispatch816-588-8888Missouri and Kansas roadside safety
Call live Kansas City dispatch at 816-588-8888 for current availability.
A stopped roadside vehicle creates a narrow work area beside moving traffic. Missouri and Kansas use different statutory language, but the safe decision starts the same way: identify the scene early, create space when a lane change is lawful and safe, and reduce speed with due caution when it is not.
Scan for flashing lights, hazard lamps, flares, cones, triangles, stopped traffic, workers, pedestrians, or a disabled vehicle. Early recognition gives you time to check mirrors, ease off the accelerator, and avoid an abrupt maneuver.
Use mirrors and a turn signal, account for vehicles beside or behind you, and change into a nonadjacent lane only when the roadway, markings, traffic, and conditions allow it safely. Do not swerve or force another driver out of position.
If a safe lane change is impossible, reduce speed and maintain a speed appropriate for road, weather, traffic, sight distance, and the people or vehicles at the roadside. Leave additional space and be prepared for a worker, door, debris, or vehicle movement.
Obey law-enforcement officers, flaggers, signs, cones, arrow boards, lane-control signals, and temporary traffic patterns. A tow truck or disabled vehicle may be only one part of a larger crash, fire, utility, maintenance, or recovery scene.
Do not photograph, record, stare at, or use a phone while passing the scene. Keep both hands ready, increase following distance, and watch the traffic path—not the incident itself.
Return to the original lane only after you have completely cleared the scene and can do so safely. Do not accelerate aggressively, cut off another vehicle, or reduce the space the next driver needs to move over.
Missouri section 304.022 addresses stationary vehicles displaying specified red, blue, amber, or white warning-light combinations and directs a safe nonadjacent-lane change when possible or due caution and reduced safe speed when it is not.
Kansas section 8-15,116 addresses a stationary vehicle displaying hazard warning lamps, road flares, or caution signals such as cones, signs, or reflective triangles and requires a safe lane change or due caution and reduced safe speed according to roadway conditions.
Lane count, traffic beside you, work zones, ramps, curves, weather, visibility, pavement, vehicle size, motorcycles, trailers, and directions from officers or flaggers.
Tow operators, police, firefighters, medical personnel, highway and utility workers, drivers, passengers, and pedestrians may step or work near the lane edge.
Missouri section 304.022 defines an emergency vehicle to include a wrecker or tow truck while performing emergency service and sets duties for drivers approaching certain stationary vehicles displaying specified warning lights. The actual lights, roadway, service, and circumstances matter.
Kansas section 8-15,116 applies to a stopped, standing, or parked vehicle displaying hazard warning lamps, road flares, or caution signals including cones, caution signs, or reflective triangles. Review the current statute for its exact requirements and exceptions.
Do not force the maneuver. Both the Missouri and Kansas provisions describe proceeding with due caution and reducing speed to a safe level when a lane change is unsafe, impossible, or unavailable under the specified conditions.
Usually not on a high-speed or active roadway unless an emergency or official direction requires it. An unnecessary stop can create another hazard and block access for responders. Call 911 for immediate danger and continue safely clear of the scene.
Current Missouri statutory language for approaching specified stationary vehicles and the emergency-vehicle definition that includes certain tow-truck emergency service.
Current Kansas statutory language for passing a stationary vehicle displaying hazard warning lamps, flares, cones, signs, or triangles.
Federal safety campaign explaining the basic move-over or slow-down decision near vehicles displaying flashing lights.
External resources are provided for convenience. Tommy's is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of those organizations.
If anyone is injured, in immediate danger, facing a fire or hazardous spill, or blocking an active traffic lane, call 911 first. Move only when you can do so without entering traffic or increasing the danger.
Call live dispatch. An online form or email does not dispatch a truck.