Dive Brief:
- On July 1, Indiana became the ninth state to implement a Slow Down to Get Around law, joining Wisconsin, North Carolina, West Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Michigan and Alabama in keeping waste industry employees safe from careless drivers.
- The new law — which was signed by Gov. Mike Pence in May — mandates that drivers change lanes or slow down to at least 10 mph below the posted speed limit when they are passing a sanitation truck. The penalty for not complying to the law is a fine of up to $500.
- NWRA President & CEO Sharon H. Kneiss praised the new Indiana law, stating that it will "save lives, protect on the job and make the roads in our communities safer."
Dive Insight:
A 2014 poll commissioned by the NWRA found that nearly 40% of Americans are tempted to speed around garbage trucks on the road each week. With a growing number of Slow Down laws taking effect nationwide, this statistic can potentially be lowered while keeping more waste employees safe on the job.
Terry Guerin, chairman of the Indiana Chapter of the NWRA and government affairs representative for Balkema Solid Waste Operations, has promoted the new Indiana law by reminding everybody that "the safety of waste and recycling workers impacts all Indiana businesses and residents."
