Page 3 - Work Force December 2024

December 2024 3
The Work Force
ALBANY — Following the worksite death of CSEA
New York State Thruway Authority member
Stephen Ebling and an I-81 incident that could
have taken the life of another CSEA member, our
union is calling on the Governor
and state legislature to make the
protection of highway workers a top
priority during the 2025 legislative
session.
Ebling, 58, died after being struck
by a vehicle while working on the
Silver Creek section of the Thruway
on November 4. CSEA and the state
Public Employee Safety and Health
(PESH) Bureau are investigating.
(See page 2 for more.)
On October 28, a CSEA member
employed at the state Department
of Transportation was nearly
struck by a box truck on I-81 in
the Southern Tier. The box truck driver narrowly
missed striking the worker and struck two DOT
vehicles at a high rate of speed before leaving
the roadway. No injuries were reported in that
incident.
Our union is urging state lawmakers to
strengthen existing laws and implement new
penalties aimed at ensuring the safety of highway
workers and other first responders who work on
the state’s highways, as well as
better educate the public about
the critical need to move over
and slow down when approaching
emergency and maintenance
vehicles. Despite laws in place
requiring drivers to move over
in these instances, a disturbing
number of drivers continue to
ignore these laws, putting lives
at risk.
“Every day, CSEA members
work in dangerous conditions,
often within mere feet of speeding
traffic. They are not just workers
— they are fathers, mothers,
sons and daughters who should not have to fear
for their lives while performing their jobs,” said
CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan. “It is time for
lawmakers to recognize the growing threat and
take meaningful steps to protect the men and
‘Lives are at stake:’ CSEA calls for stronger highway
worker protections after recent death, other incidents
“It is time for
lawmakers to
recognize the
growing threat and
take meaningful
steps to protect the
men and women
who maintain and
repair our highways.
Lives are at stake.”
women who maintain and repair our highways.
Lives are at stake.”
The call for increased safety measures follows
several high-profile incidents over the past month,
as well as a growing number over the past year.
In many cases, drivers have failed to follow the
law by not moving over or slowing down when
approaching work zones or areas where vehicles
are on the side of a highway. As a result, workers
have been struck by vehicles while performing
essential maintenance tasks, exacerbating the
already perilous nature of their jobs.
Our union is calling on state leaders to take
action during the 2025 legislative session to
address this growing crisis and to provide real
protection for those who serve on the roads.
— Janice Gavin
In this video screenshot from the New York State Department of Transportation, a CSEA member
employed at the state Department of Transportation was nearly struck by a box truck on I-81 in the
Southern Tier. Watch the video at https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1113893060386127.
About the Move
Over Law
On March 27, 2024, New York State’s
expanded Move Over Law went into
effect. It expanded on the 2010 Move Over
Act, which initially included only emergency
vehicles. In 2012, an amendment was made to
include any vehicle with flashing lights, such
as tow trucks and maintenance vehicles.
As of March 2024, the law now covers ANY
stopped vehicle on the side of the road. As
soon as a driver sees a stopped vehicle, they
should immediately slow down and move
over one lane if it is safe to do so.
The Move Over law applies to BOTH
sides of the roadway and not just the right
shoulder. Penalties for violating the law may
include fines, points on the driver’s license
and increased auto insurance premiums.