Slow Down. Move over.

Imagine working in an industry that makes the Deadliest Catch fishing industry seem like a cruise ship vacation. If youre reading this, chances are good you already do. As a tow driver you work in an industry where youre practically invisible - until its almost too late. In some states, youre also invisible to the law telling people to slow down and move over when passing an incident or emergency on the highway. Even though tow drivers, like emergency workers, suffer more than twice the average occupational injury and fatality rates compared to all other industries, some states dont require drivers to slow down and move over for a tow driver. More on that problem below. Tow drivers fatalities, injuries and near misses on our highways happen far too often. Ask any driver and youll hear a story that will raise the hair on the back of your neck, quickly followed by a knowing head shake and probably an explicative. In some cases, its a miracle they survived to tell the tale. Some didnt. With the exceptions of Hawaii and the District of Columbia, 49 States now have the Slow Down Move Over law in place, but we still lose not only law enforcement officers and emergency responders, but tow drivers and civilians on an almost daily basis. Why? According to a national poll by Mason Dixon
Polling & Research, sponsored by the National Safety Commission, 71 percent of Americans have never heard of Move Over laws. Not knowing about the laws also means those same people likely dont know the proper procedure when passing an incident/emergency scene. Quite simply, if youre in a lane beside the incident, slow down first, and then attempt to move over - if its safe to do so. In that order. If you can only slow down, do so. Other reasons for these senseless deaths include drunken driving, texting, daydreaming, and simple inattention to surroundings when passing an incident. Even though tow drivers are usually on the receiving end of motorist thoughtlessness, its also important to remember that we drive these same roads as a civilian ourselves. While practicing very safe operating procedures when working, theyre often forgotten while out in our non-working lives. Far too many times Ive been a passenger in the car with someone who should know about the law (read : driving professional), and yet I see little, if any, effort to slow down and move over when they pass an incident. While no official statistics on the deaths of tow drivers specifically, industry estimates range from 50 to 70 tow drivers killed on an annual basis. A simple internet search returns dismaying examples just over the last year:

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Jun 30, 2013 - A local tow truck operator was killed while he was in the process of towing a vehicle on Interstate ten. Jun 11, 2013 - KUSA - A man was killed Tuesday afternoon when he was hit by a semi truck as he was attempting to tow a vehicle. May 4, 2013 - MIAMI (CBS Miami) - A tow truck driver assisting a car was hit and killed by a third vehicle that fled the scene.

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Feb 12, 2013 - MALIBU, Calif. (KTLA) -- A tow truck driver was killed in Malibu Monday night Aug 28, 2012 - An 18-year-old Smithville, MO, tow truck driver was struck and killed while out of his vehicle on Interstate 35 near the Christopher S. Bond Bridge. Dec 9, 2012 - A tow-truck driver helping a stranded motorist along the 405 Freeway in Long Beach was killed early Sunday after he was struck by a drunk driver. COLTON, California J&S Towing truck driver Jesus Salcedo, 56, of Colton was struck and killed late Friday afternoon while assisting the driver disabled vehicle

Unlike police, fire and rescue, which are protected by the slow down move over law, tow drivers arent covered by these laws in all states. So, which states dont protect tow drivers with laws when theyre the only ones at the incident? Surprisingly, there are nine: Alaska Louisiana Maryland New Mexico New York North Dakota South Dakota Texas Wyoming

Working an incident is always a fluid situation. While you always have to have one eye on traffic and another on the job at hand, the states above make it even more difficult for tow drivers to come home at night. If you live in one of these states, speak with your legislator. So, how do you protect yourself while youre out on the road? Three words. High visibility equipment. Your lights, work clothes and temporary traffic control equipment should all be high visibility; the brighter the better. Dont work on the traffic side of the incident, if possible. While this isn't always possible, this is the reason you want to have high visibility equipment. Your movement, because noticing activity is a function built into our brains, combined with the bright clothing creates better visibility for other drivers.

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