Moving Over For Emergency And Work Zones
RCW 46.61.212 — 200 feet either side, a lane away, or 10 below the limit
In Washington, an emergency or work zone is the adjacent lanes 200 feet before and after a stationary emergency vehicle using its signals, a tow truck or roadside assistance vehicle using its lights, a police vehicle with emergency lights, or a construction, maintenance, garbage or utility vehicle using flashing lights.
| The road | What the driver does |
|---|---|
| The roadFour or more lanes, two going the driver's way | What the driver doesProceeds with caution, slows, and if possible changes lanes or moves away from the vehicle |
| The roadFewer than four lanes | What the driver doesProceeds with caution, slows, and if possible passes to the left at a safe distance |
| The roadMoving away would be unsafe | What the driver doesSlows to at least 10 miles per hour below the limit, or to no more than 50 where the limit is 60 or more |
A violation carries twice the usual penalty, which may not be waived, reduced or suspended. Driving so as to endanger a worker in the zone is reckless endangerment of emergency or work zone workers, a gross misdemeanor, and the license is suspended for 60 days on a conviction.
Sources for this section (1)
- RCW 46.61.212 — Approaching emergency zones; penalty
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Washington attorney.