Imagine working in an industry that makes the “Deadliest
Catch” fishing industry seem like a cruise ship vacation. If you’re reading
this, chances are good you already do. As a tow driver you work in an industry
where you’re practically invisible - until it’s almost too late. In some
states, you’re 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 don’t
require drivers to slow down and move over for a tow driver. More on that
problem below.
Tow driver’s fatalities, injuries and near misses on our
highways happen far too often. Ask any driver and you’ll 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, it’s a miracle they survived
to tell the tale. Some didn’t.
With the exceptions of Hawai’i 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 don’t know the proper procedure when
passing an incident/emergency scene. Quite simply, if you’re in a lane beside
the incident, slow down first, and then attempt to move over - if it’s 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, it’s also important to remember that we drive these
same roads as a civilian ourselves. While practicing very safe operating
procedures when working, they’re often forgotten while out in our non-working
lives. Far too many times I've 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:
* 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.
* 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 aren’t covered by these laws in all
states. So, which states don’t protect tow drivers with laws when they’re 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 you’re 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. Don’t 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.
If you know of a safer way we can work, don't hesitate to
contact us.
Sean Dewey
East Coast Truck and Trailer Sales, Inc
