Governor Terry Branstad signed into law legislation designed to protect workers in the waste, recycling, and utility industry. Lyle Vander Meiden with Midwest Sanitation and representatives from Pella Cooperative Electric helped create Iowa’s version of the Slow Down to Get Around law. The law qualifies waste, recycling, and service vehicles as “utility vehicles” and therefore requires motorists to slow down or move out of their way or face penalties. Iowa is now the 14th state to enact this legislation.
Vander Meiden says the law goes into effect on July 1, 2017, and requires motorists to slow down, safely change lanes if possible and operate with caution around waste and recycling trucks when safety lights are flashing, similar
to traveling through a construction work zone or passing a stopped public safety or emergency vehicle.
“This law is about the safety of waste and recycling collectors who serve our communities statewide,” Vander Meiden says. “All motorists are to exercise caution and must slow down to get around waste and recycling vehicles, which will save lives and prevent unnecessary accidents and injuries. Our focus now turns to raising awareness of the new law and educating residents of the dangers that collection workers face daily on our roadways.”
Vander Meiden says he was prompted to contact local legislators after two crashes involving Midwest Sanitation trucks happened in Pella last summer.
To read the full story, visit http://kniakrls.com/2017/05/midwest-sanitation-and-pella-cooperative-electric-help-expand-iowas-slow-down-to-get-around-laws/.