#AustinStrong is...
A nonprofit organization founded for the purpose of spreading awareness of the “slow down move over laws” that are in effect for all 50 states. The law states a driver must move over one lane or slow down to 20 mph below the speed limit if there are flashing lights on the side of the road. A first responder is struck and killed every 4.5 days because a driver does not slow down and move over.
Our initiative is to spread awareness using a platform of billboards and car shows to educate the general driving population which will result in ZERO struck-by deaths.
More About Our Movement
During 2021 and 2022, former House Representative,
Bob Cortes, worked diligently creating a House Bill
and following it through Senate until it was passed
and signed into law on July 1, 2022. Special thanks
went out to Senator Gayle Harrell for endorsing the bill.
On December 1, 2022 we held a highway
memorial marker dedication ceremony that
unveiled the permanent sign that was placed
on SR408 near the Rosalind Exit, which is
where the accident took place.
The event was hosted by Chief Walter Lewis
with Fire Station 1 in downtown Orlando (which was the responding station the day of the accident).
Speakers that day included...
Senator Tom Wright
Bob Cortes, Sr Adm of Gov Affairs for Seminole County Sheriff’s Office
House Representative David Smith
House Representative Anna Eskami
Capt. Mark Castleberry, Florida Highway Patrol
Lieutenant Jerry Goglas, Orlando Police
Department traffic homicide (also responded
to the accident)
Louis Marino, Division Chief over law enforcement
Operations at Volusia County Sheriffs Office
Captain Mitch Shaban, Orange County
Sheriff’s Office
Mike Seamon, Executive Director of PWOF
Eric Lucas, Johnson’s Wrecker Service
John Rogers, John’s/Pratts Towing
Garrett Paquette, President of SSTA
Jim Jennings, Board member and former
President of SSTA, board member of TRAA,
and board member of Int’l Towing Hall of Fame
Robert Ramos, board member of K9’s United
Brock Aun, Senior Director of Communication
For Haas Alert.
Special Thanks:
To Brian Hutchings, Central Florida
Expressway Authority and Michael Mott, United
Signs and Signals for designing and creating our
highway memorial marker.
Highway memorial marker dedication ceremony is on page 11 in the January issue of American Towman
Past Events
We participated in three local Christmas Parades in 2021 and 2022 using our Banners and Post Cards to spread Awareness of drivers of all ages.
More...Past Events
The PCB lighting was especially lit for Corey Reynolds, who was 18 and a mobile technician. He was struck and killed while changing a tire on June 3, 2022. He lived closed to this wheel and his mother, company he worked for, and family members came out this day to remember him.
Our 2nd Annual SDMO Event at Asheville Outlets!
Thank you to all of our hosts, sponsors, and helpers that made our 2nd annual Move Over NC event at Asheville Outlets on June 3, 2023 a huge success. From clogging performances, food trucks, DJ, fire trucks and police agencies, face painting, and trophies, fun was had by all that attended! Can’t wait to see everyone again next year!
Billboards
By using billboards we spread awareness of the SDMO laws that are in all 50 states. First responders deserve to be able to go home at the end of their shift. We need people to understand it is imperative to move over for flashing lights.
Since our permanent memorial marker was installed in Orlando, we currently do not have a billboard in Orlando, but are seeking a replacement location in Florida.
We just renewed our annual contract for our billboard located in Haywood County (outside of Asheville, NC) on Interstate 40 at mm 34.5 eastbound.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any contacts or additional information that would be beneficial to our cause.
Upcoming Events
To See a Calendar of Events of things that are Upcoming, Please go to Our Events Page <—–Click
October 21, 2023, is National SDMO Day. In Honor of Austin and spreading awareness, we are lighting up as many bridges, fountains and buildings as possible. Included in those lightings will be Nascar Hall of Fame and possibly 35 other fountains and buildings in downtown Charlotte, NC.
We recently received approval on our Adopt a Highway sign and it is located on Hwy 209 at Paragon Parkway intersection, near the lake entrance.
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