Wyoming Highway Patrol Warns against Non-Emergency Stops on Highway Shoulders: 70 Crashes Have Killed 6
On October 28, 2026, in Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyoming, the Wyoming Highway Patrol issued a reminder urging drivers not to stop on highway shoulders except in emergencies.
According to the patrol's news release, between February 2025 and April 2026 Wyoming recorded 70 traffic crashes involving vehicles stopped on shoulders, resulting in 6 deaths, 21 injuries and 51 cases of property damage. The patrol noted that stopping on a highway shoulder is illegal except in emergencies, which include mechanical breakdowns, medical emergencies, traffic stops and stopping to avoid a collision. Drivers who must stop should pull as far to the outside of the shoulder as possible and call emergency services immediately; in non-emergency situations, they should drive to the nearest exit and find a "safe and legal place" such as a rest area or service area.
The release also noted that many roadside-vehicle crashes involve commercial vehicles and highway speeds, making them especially dangerous and even deadly, and urged drivers to recognize what counts as a genuine emergency, prepare in advance and make wise decisions, to prevent crashes and keep Wyoming's roads safe.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 怀俄明州议会大厦（夏延）。图源：Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 授权。 / Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne. Source: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA.
