Steer It, Clear It on I-235
At 5:15 p.m. on a wet Tuesday, Priya is eastbound on I-235 in Des Moines near the 31st Street exit. Traffic is moving at about 55 mph in the right lane. A small SUV ahead brakes suddenly; Priya rear-ends it at low speed. No one is hurt, both vehicles are drivable, and the damage is to bumpers and taillights. Priya's car and the SUV come to rest in the right travel lane just beyond a curve, with hazard lights on. Cars behind are swerving. Priya's phone is in the cup holder; her insurance card is in the glove box. A tow truck with amber lights is approaching from behind, and the shoulder is narrow but open about 200 feet ahead. Light rain is falling and visibility is reduced.
1. What should Priya and the other driver do first, and where should they move the vehicles?
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Iowa's Steer It, Clear It law applies: when a crash causes no injury and the vehicles can be driven safely, drivers must move them out of the travel lane. Priya and the SUV driver should put on hazard lights and move to the open shoulder about 200 feet ahead, or to the nearest exit ramp if that is safer. Leaving two cars in a 55 mph lane just beyond a curve invites a secondary crash. If a car cannot move, everyone should stay buckled inside with hazards on and call 911. Once off the travel lane, they should set out warning triangles only if it is safe, exchange information, and call police only if required or if there is a hazard.
2. How should Priya respond to the approaching tow truck with amber lights?
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The tow truck is a service vehicle with flashing amber lights, so Iowa's move-over rule applies. If Priya is still moving, she should change lanes away from the tow truck if she can do so safely; if she cannot, she should slow to a safe speed below the limit and pass with plenty of room. If she is already parked on the shoulder, she should stay away from the traffic side of her car and not stand between the vehicles. The tow truck driver may be working near the lane, and wet pavement lengthens stopping distances. She should not wave the truck past or assume it will stop for her.
3. What information should Priya collect, and what should she avoid doing?
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She should exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, driver's license numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance company and policy information. She should photograph the vehicles, the damage, the road position, and the other car's plate, and note the time, location, and weather. She should not admit fault, argue about who caused the crash, or leave the scene before the information is exchanged. She should avoid standing in the lane or between the cars. She should report the crash to her insurer promptly and follow Iowa's crash-reporting requirements if the damage or injury threshold applies.