Safe, quick clearance (SQC) laws and policies are a central component 

to reaping the safety, mobility, and economic benefi ts of Traffi c Incident Management 

(TIM). Without effective implementation of three core SQC laws, the benefi ts of even 

the most advanced and effective TIM practices will be limited. Effective implementation 

of these three types of SQC laws and policies saves lives by:

• Providing a “cushion” for responders when drivers move over; 

• Keeping roadways open for faster incident response;

• Helping to prevent secondary accidents by having motorists move their vehicles 

out of the path of travel and allowing responders to remove debris or abandoned 

vehicles from shoulders or travel lanes.

The responder community and State governments widely appreciate the importance 

of SQC. Several national-level initiatives affi rm the role of effective SQC in assuring 

public safety, including the Full Function Service Patrol Handbook, the TIM Handbook 

and the National Unifi ed Goal for TIM. However, while nearly all States have at least 

one of these laws in place, fewer than half have enacted all three core laws. Moreover, 

studies report that even in States with these laws, approximately 70% of motorists, 

and many law enforcement and transportation fi eld responders, are unaware of them, 

suggesting that implementation of these life-saving laws is far from optimized.

The Federal Highway Administration is implementing a new outreach program, 

Educational Outreach for Safe, Quick Clearance Laws and Policies, to promote 

implementation of and compliance with the three core SQC laws. This initiative 

seeks to advance SQC on a national level and will result in a shared and consistent 

understanding of responder and motorist roles and responsibilities in quickly 

clearing incidents and incident-related debris. 

The National Cooperative Highway Research Program 

(NCHRP) defi nes SQC as “...the practice of rapidly 

and safely removing temporary obstructions from 

the roadway.”1

Three core SQC laws provide a necessary 

foundation for facilitating the safety, mobility, 

and economic benefi ts of TIM when 

effectively implemented together: 

> Driver Removal or “Move It”: These 

laws require motorists involved in minor 

crashes (where there are no serious 

injuries and the vehicle can be driven) to 

move their vehicles out of the travel lanes 

to the shoulder or other safe area before 

initiating the exchange of insurance 

information, or while awaiting the arrival 

of law enforcement and/or a tow truck. 

> Authority Removal or “Remove It”: These 

laws provide authority (and immunity 

from liability in general) for designated 

public agencies to remove abandoned 

vehicles and spilled cargo from the 

roadway to restore traffi c fl ow. 

> “Move Over”: Designed to protect incident 

responders and stranded motorists 

alike, “Move Over” laws require motorists 

approaching incident responders and 

vehicles to slow down and move over 

to an adjacent lane, when possible, 

to provide an increased safety buffer. 

Educational Outreach for 

Safe, Quick Clearance (SQC) Laws and Policies

Promoting Nationwide Implementation of Driver Removal 

(“Move It”), Authority Removal (“Remove It”) and Move 

Over Laws and Policies

1NCHRP Synthesis 318, p. 19.

>>>

>>>

(“Move It”), Authority Removal (“Remove It”) and Move >>>
The objectives of this outreach initiative are to:

• Encourage State and local/tribal governments in the top 40 metropolitan areas 

to adopt and promote effective implementation all three SQC laws. 

• Create awareness among motorists of these laws, and promote compliance.

• Encourage the automobile insurance industry and civic organizations to educate 

motorists about “Move It” and “Move Over” laws. 

• Encourage DOTs to build strong Full-Function Service Patrols with a “fi rst 

responder” mentality to support effective implementation of SQC strategies.

• Educate State and local political authorities about effective SQC implementation 

based on lessons-learned.

The FHWA SQC outreach initiative will deliver the following products to stakeholders:

• An Awareness Briefi ng package and supporting materials that explain the 

benefi ts of adopting all three SQC laws.

• A Communications Strategy aimed at institutional decision makers and 

implementers responsible for promoting, implementing, and/or enforcing SQC 

laws in the 50 States. The strategy will focus on educating and equipping leaders 

at all levels within implementing organizations to successfully implement the three 

primary SQC laws in all 50 States, and to adopt the latest effective practices. 

• An Operational Marketing Strategy designed to be used by stakeholders to 

promote and support widespread adoption and effective, sustained implementation 

of the core set of SQC laws across the country. 

• Some outreach products, including talking points and fact sheets that can be used 

at State and local levels.

FHWA established a stakeholder panel to help guide the project. The panel included 

decision makers from public safety and TIM domains across the U.S., as well as other 

stakeholders such as members of the automobile insurance industry, trucking industry, 

and civic organizations. These leaders shaped outreach messages, strategies, and 

products to accomplish SQC goals. 

How Can You Help?

As a leader in TIM and public safety, you can 

support this initiative As a leader in TIM and 

public safety, you can support this initiative by:

> Supporting full implementation of SQC laws;

> Making your colleagues and associates 

aware of these laws and this initiative; 

> Sharing the outreach products developed 

through this initiative with your colleagues 

and associates.

Learn More:

Contact Kimberly Vásconez, FHWA ETO 

Team Leader, to learn more:

tel: 202-366-1559

email: Kimberly.Vasconez@dot.gov

While approximately 80% 

of States have at least one 

of these laws in place, only 

seven have enacted all 

three core laws.

>>>

>>> >>>

States with 1 of 3 SQC laws

States with 2 of 3 SQC laws

States with all 3 SQC laws

States have no SQC laws in place

Promoting Nationwide Implementation of Driver Removal 

(“Move It”), Authority Removal (“Remove It”) and Move 

Over Laws and Policies

FHWA-HOP-10-012