Dive Brief:
- The Missouri General Assembly has approved Slow Down to Get Around (SDTGA), making it the 16th state to pass this legislation, according to an emailed National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) press statement.
- The law, which will go into effect on Aug. 28, 2017, requires motorists to drive below the speed limit while approaching a sanitation vehicle with flashing lights and to move into another lane, if possible, away from the vehicle.
- Sen. Dan Hegeman and Rep. Craig Redmon helped lead this effort in the Missouri legislature by modifying an existing law requiring motorists to slow down when approaching other vehicles with flashing lights.
Dive Insight:
SDTGA has been rapidly adopted across the country, especially since early 2016. Missouri's approval of the legislation closely follows 15 other states that have enacted it: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia. Legislation has also been introduced in Connecticut.
The popularity of this law is largely due to refuse and recycling collection remaining the fifth most dangerous occupation nationwide. While safety practices are preached to all refuse truck drivers, citizen attention and awareness is still lacking, making the adoption of this legislation one of the most important movements for industry employees.
The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) continues to make efforts to distribute free SDTGA decals to its members, and some municipalities have even painted large, attention-grabbing reminders on the side of their trucks. It is anticipated that more states will follow Missouri and others as the industry continues to promote safety in order to get refuse collection off the most dangerous occupation list.
