WHEREAS, crash responders, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services, towing and recovery operators, public works personnel, and transportation departments, selflessly risk their lives daily to assist motorists, clear roadway incidents, and restore traffic flow; and

WHEREAS, the State of Maine is committed to treating all roadway deaths and serious injuries as preventable and unacceptable; and

WHEREAS, Maine remains committed to reducing secondary crashes, including responder struck-by fatalities and injuries; and

WHEREAS, public safety agencies strive to reduce traffic congestion for all road users by encouraging safe, quick traffic incident clearance; and

WHEREAS, state officials are committed to collecting and applying crash data to improve the safety of traffic incident responders and road users; and

WHEREAS, the State of Maine is committed to promoting public education and outreach on Move Over and Driver Removal laws; and

WHEREAS, Maine law requires drivers to slow down and, if safe to do so, move over when approaching emergency vehicles and roadside response units operating on the side of the road; and

WHEREAS, Crash Responder Safety Week provides an opportunity to honor the dedication of traffic incident responders and remind all drivers that their actions behind the wheel directly impact the lives of those protecting our roads;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Janet T. Mills, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim November 2-6, 2026 as

Crash Responder Safety Week 

throughout the State of Maine, with the theme “Slow Down, Move Over. Lives are on the Line!” and I urge all drivers to stay alert, slow down, move over, and honor the men and women who keep our roads safe.

In testimony whereof, I have caused

the Great Seal of the State to be

hereunto affixed GIVEN under my

hand at Augusta this fourteenth day 
of October Two Thousand Twenty-Six