The bill amends South Dakota law regarding the requirements for drivers approaching vehicles that are stopped or occupying the shoulder of the highway with warning lights activated. Specifically, it modifies Section 32-31-6.1 to require drivers to either merge into the lane farthest from the stopped vehicle when on a multi-lane highway or slow down significantly when on a two-lane highway. The new language specifies that drivers must merge at least three hundred feet before reaching the vehicle or reduce their speed to at least twenty miles per hour below the posted limit, or five miles per hour if the limit is twenty miles per hour or less. Violating these provisions is classified as a Class 2 misdemeanor, with a minimum fine of two hundred seventy dollars.

Additionally, Section 32-31-6.2 is amended to establish that any driver who causes an accident while violating the aforementioned requirements will be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor if the accident involves a stopped emergency vehicle or any vehicle using amber, yellow, or blue warning lights. This change aims to enhance road safety by ensuring that drivers take appropriate precautions when approaching vehicles with activated warning signals.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/03/2025: 32-31-6.1, 32-31-6.2
Enrolled, 01/30/2025: 32-31-6.1, 32-31-6.2