--------------------------------------------------------------
By Mona Sandefur
Benton Evening News
Posted Jan 16, 2009 @ 05:00 PM
Benton, Ill. —
Temperatures have dropped to their lowest level since Christmas 2004. Those working outdoors or venturing outside have heard repeated urgings to bundle up and wear extra layers of clothing.
Tips for travelers abound. What to carry in vehicles in case of an emergency is available at your fingertips, via the Internet. Stranded motorists waiting for help to arrive are being offered tips, compliments of Shane Cockrum and Chris Sawyer, owners of Ranger Towing and Recovery in Benton.
“We have seen a lot of dangerous situations, particularly on the interstate,” Sawyer said. “One of the first tips we can offer is to have residents program the telephone number of a towing service into their cell phones. This can save a lot of time, especially during an emergency. Be sure to program the telephone numbers of local police departments, or remember to dial 911 in the event of an emergency.
Before a towing service reaches a stranded motorist, there are some safety precautions the motorist should take, he said: “Be sure to turn on your emergency flashers. Try to move your vehicle to the right-hand side of the road out of the direction of traffic. If you are on the left side of a divided highway, this can be a very dangerous place to be but is sometimes unavoidable. Do not leave your vehicle stopped in a traffic lane.”
Cockrum said vehicles should be moved as far away from traffic as possible.
“If possible, make sure you have plenty of room before opening the door of your vehicle,” he said. “You do not want to open the door into oncoming traffic, and you certainly do not want to step into the path of a moving vehicle.
“Be prepared for problem situations at all times, and particularly during extreme cold weather,” Cockrum said. “Keep items in your vehicle such as flashlights, flares, blankets and a first-aid kit. Mobile phones are probably the most valuable safety tool you can carry in the event of an emergency.”
Both Cockrum and Sawyer have prior roadside experience.
“My father, Ron Sawyer, owns Sawyer Trucking in Christopher,” Sawyer said.
Cockrum said he has seen a lot of accidents while performing firefighting duties.
“Too many accidents happen, and most are totally avoidable,” he said. “As with driving, roadside safety is equally important. In the past two years, we have lost a firefighter and construction workers in the area.
“New laws on the books mean drivers are supposed to slow down in accident and construction zones but that does not always happen,” Cockrum said.
“Shib’s Law and Scott’s Law were both passed to protect emergency personnel and construction workers. Scott’s Law, named after Lt. Scott Gillen of the Chicago Fire Department, mandates that when approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle, if the vehicle is displaying flashing warning lights, drivers are supposed to proceed with caution. Motorists are supposed to yield the right-of-way by moving to another lane if possible and reducing their speed. This is also called the ‘move over’ law.”
Shib’s Law was named in memory of a Sesser firefighter.
“James G. Miller was a 22-year veteran of the Sesser Fire Protection District,” Sawyer said. “Everyone knew him as Shib. He lost his life at 4:14 a.m. on July 27, 2007, while responding to an emergency call on Interstate 57. Shib’s Law is designed to protect emergency personnel. Both of these laws are designed to protect those who work close to the roadway but we all know that not everyone follows the laws.”
Another law, recently passed, requires emergency personnel to wear reflective clothing.
“Federal law in the United States now requires all personnel working on a federally funded highway to wear a high visibility vest,” Cockrum said. “That law started on Nov. 25, 2008. Firefighters are excluded since the vest does not comply with NFPA regulations. Paramedics, police officers, tow truck operators, and road workers are required by law to wear the reflective vests.”
Cockrum and Sawyer are graduates of Benton Consolidated High School and said the name of the company was a “no-brainer.”
“We both grew up Rangers,” Sawyer said. “Before we started the towing and recovery business, we both wrote out a list of names to call the service. We met the following day and had about five or six names each. On both lists was the name Ranger Towing and Recovery. It just seemed like the right choice.”
Cockrum said both want to do more than just provide towing and recovery service.
“We are members of the community,” he said. “These are our neighbors and friends. We have known people in the communities our whole lives. We want to do more than the average towing service. We will go the extra mile to help our customers.”
Sawyer said Ranger Towing and Recovery is a 24-hour towing and roadside service company.
“We also provide tire changing, will help you if you lock your keys in your vehicle and can winch you out of a ditch,” he said
Towing service owners offer safety tips - Benton, IL - Benton Evening News
A couple bad apples don't spoil the whole bunch. Admittedly there are bad apples that need to be weeded out, just as there is in every profession. If someone was to claim that an entire race, religion or ethnicity was bad because of the actions of a few, you would scream that generalizing and prejudice, but yet you have problems with criticizing all Chicago Police Officers because of the actions of some.
ReplyDeleteTowing Chicago
ReplyDeleteHello,
I have looked over the article about the Benton towing company that publishes safety tips but do not see where it criticizes police officers. I know there are feeds that come in from news sources alongside the blog but those are not published by me.