What is “STEER IT AND CLEAR IT?”

Missouri law requires that if you are in a motor vehicle traffic crash and there are no apparent serious personal injuries or death, and the vehicle is safe to drive, you must make every reasonable effort to move your vehicle to the shoulder as not to obstruct the regular flow of traffic. Simply put, if you can “Steer It, Clear It” – it’s the law.

Traffic Regulations Sections 304.151 and 304.155

Should I Move My Vehicle If I Am In A Crash?

YES. If you are ever in a minor car crash and no one is seriously injured, you should move your vehicle out of the way of traffic.

Police and insurance companies WILL NOT penalize you for moving your vehicle off the road after a crash with no serious injuries.

 

Why Is This My Responsibility?

By moving your vehicle out of the way, you will help:

• Keep yourself safer and reduce the possibility of additional damage to your vehicle
• Improve response and clearance times at crash scenes
• Reduce crash-related traffic congestion and delay
• Reduce secondary crashes
• Improve safety conditions for yourself as well as fire and rescue, police and other emergency responders

 

If you are involved in a minor incident, follow these FIVE steps:

1. ASSESS IT

Check for injuries. If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately and wait for emergency responders. Provide location including the milepost number and types of injuries.

2. STEER IT AND CLEAR IT

Determine whether the vehicles are moveable. If so, move vehicles out of the travel lane to the nearest safe location.

3. AVOID IT

Once stopped and out of a travel lane, avoid walking into the travel lane while exiting your vehicle. Stay in your vehicle if you can with your seat belt fastened – you are safest inside your vehicle. If you must  exit the vehicle, attempt to exit or approach the vehicle on the non-traffic side. If you are assisting at a crash, approach a vehicle from the non-traffic side. Protect yourself and your vehicle from further damage. Warn other drivers of danger with four-way flashers, flares, flashlight, etc.

4. NOTIFY IT

If there are no serious injuries, call your local non-emergency law enforcement number to report the incident. Give them your exact location and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.

Click for a list of non-emergency law enforcement numbers in Missouri

5. REPORT IT

Exchange driver, vehicle and insurance information. Report the incident as instructed by law enforcement and your insurance provider.

Click to download the “Steer It and Clear It” brochure for Motorist Information Exchange Cards

 

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Move Over. It’s the Law.

If your car has ever broken down or had a flat tire, leaving you stranded on the side of a road, you know how dangerous and scary it can be. Cars and trucks speeding by just inches away leaves too little margin for error and could easily result in a disastrous crash. America’s first responders – police, fire, EMT’s, tow truck drivers, highway workers and utility workers – face this peril every day in the line of duty and their jobs often require that they park their vehicle on the side of the roadway.

Missouri's "Move Over" Law

The Missouri Move Over law requires a driver to yield to a stationary emergency vehicle that is displaying red or red-and-blue lights by moving to another lane when there are a minimum of two lanes traveling the same direction. If it is not safe to move into another lane, you must reduce your speed and maintain a safe speed according to road conditions.

In Missouri, violation of the law resulting in the death of an emergency worker while performing official duties is involuntary manslaughter in the first degree with criminal negligence. Causing an injury to an emergency worker is assault in the second degree with criminal negligence. Failing to move over when approached by an emergency vehicle or passing a stationary emergency vehicle displaying emergency lights is a misdemeanor.

Here is a link to a brochure from Missouri State Highway Patrol: https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/Publications/Brochures/documents/SHP-435.pdf
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will continue to raise awareness of this important issue through its ongoing safety campaign:

Move Over. It’s the Law.