‘Move over’ — It’s the law
By Brandy Nance
Originally published 01:05 p.m., January 10, 2008
Updated 01:05 p.m., January 10, 2008
Google “tow truck drivers killed on the job” and more than 300,000 hits will be returned. Pages and pages of names and stories of tow truck drivers come up — each with a story. And each was killed trying to do his job, helping motorists and other emergency workers.
Tow trucks, along with road maintenance trucks, are included in Kansas’ “Move Over” law. Other vehicles included in the law are emergency vehicles such as fire, ambulance and patrol cars. It’s a $180 fine plus court costs in Kansas for people who are ticketed for failure to move over for an emergency vehicle.
Although there are laws in place in 40 states, 71 percent of Americans have not even heard of “Move Over” laws, according to a survey done by Mason Dixon Polling & Research, sponsored by the National Safety Commission.
According to the Towing and Recovery Association of America, during the first three months of 2006, five TRAA towers were killed at traffic incident scenes. The problem of towers killed on the job isn’t well-tracked, but in September 2006, the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum in Chattanooga, Tenn., unveiled the “Wall of the Fallen,” a memorial that displays the names of towers across the world who have been killed on the job. Ninety-four names were unveiled in September 2006 on the wall.
Williams Automotive, an Emporia company that offers towing service, has had a couple of close calls — both within a week of each other last month, said Rex Williams, of Williams Automotive. One of those incidents could have cost a tow truck driver his life, Williams said.
Williams said both incidents of tow trucks being hit were in December in bad weather.
“Both of them were when we were wrenching people out of the ditch,” he said, adding that both incidents were on I-35.
Williams said he was involved in one incident. One lane was plowed open after a snow. Two people were passing each other on the road.
“You couldn’t even see where the road was at,” he said. “Why they’d be passing ... you couldn’t be more careless.”
It was the second incident that could have been disastrous. Williams said a semi-truck was driving on the road and spotted the tow truck — but it spotted it too late. The driver of the semi trailer swerved, causing the trailer to roll over the bed of the parked tow truck and into the ditch. The trailer ran over the right side of the truck. The tow truck driver was on the left side of the truck.
Williams said mandatory safety training teaches drivers to position themselves to avoid disasters, but even with careful planning and training, the drivers are at the mercy of the people on the road.
“It’s not how careful you are, it’s the other guy you have to watch for,” Williams said.
Based on these two incidents and more than 30 years of towing experience, Williams said Kansas’ “Move Over” law is not working.
Kansas statute states that drivers of vehicles must yield right of way to authorized emergency vehicles. Still, in Lyon County alone, 46 tickets were given for failure to move over for emergency vehicles in 2005 ; 2006 yielded 41 tickets and 2007 yielded 49.
“Some people do get over out of courtesy,” Williams said. “I would guess 30 to 35 percent is all. You’d just be amazed how many people don’t get over. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to run up against the tow truck in the (years) I’ve been towing.”
On the Net:
Move Over America: www.moveoveramerica.com
Wall of the Fallen: www.internationaltowingmuseum.org/wallofthefallen.htm.
Kansas Legislature: www.kslegislature.org
madpoet (anonymous) says...
This just shows how there is a lack of "common" courtesy in general. I always have moved over if someone was stopped on the shoulder, even someone with flashers on. Try getting someone to change lanes on I-35 to let you get on! I shudder when I see people fail to pull over for an emergency vehicle. I see it all the time. When I pull over it does seem to prompt the people behind me to follow suit. Maybe they need to make people write, "move over" 100 times when they renew their driver's license.
January 10, 2008 at 1:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Absolute (anonymous) says...
I didn't know that tow trucks were under the "move over" law, but that seems like total common sense to me. I always pull over for anyone on the side of the road.
January 10, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
slipandslide (anonymous) says...
i didnt know tow trucks were a dangerous job, but i ve never thought much about it, ive always pulled into the inside lane when someone is stopped on the shoulder, it just makes sense to give someone alittle more comfort space.
January 10, 2008 at 5:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weltha (anonymous) says...
Tow truck drivers do have a dangerous job. Especially in the winter months w/ snow and ice. I am so glad my spouse no longer does that job. Any job where you have to get out of your vehicle next to moving traffic is dangerous. Personally I move over no matter what type of vehicle is on the side. Even if I know its an empty car. If I can't get overt I slow down. It just seems like the right and safe thing to do for all involved.
January 11, 2008 at 11:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )