MEDIA RELEASE: CAA urges drivers to protect lives on first national Slow Down Move Over Day
October 18, 20222 min readWINNIPEG, May 14, 2019 – CAA is urging motorists to make space for tow trucks providing service on the side of the road on Canada’s first national Slow Down Move Over day.
The day promotes a safe working environment for tow truck operators across the country. CAA has long advocated for the protection of roadside assistance workers through Slow Down, Move Over legislation.
CAA Clubs across Canada have designated May 14 as Slow Down Move Over day
to bring attention to this important issue.
“Lack of driver awareness is one of the largest threats to tow-truck operator safety on this day and all others,” said Raymond Chan, government relations, CAA. “Everyone should slow down and move over when they see a tow truck operator on the side of the road.”
CAA’s eight Clubs across Canada will be launching public education campaigns and events today to draw attention to the safety risks tow truck operators face. There are approximately 24 million motorists and 15,000 tow truck operators on the road annually in Canada.
This leads to thousands of near misses experienced by emergency roadside operators annually and, across North America, nearly 100 tow truck drivers are killed every year after being struck by oncoming traffic while helping stranded motorists with flat tires, breakdowns and collisions.
Every tow truck driver knows the number of close calls they've experienced while pulled over on busy roadways.
"I figured that was going to be the end, that I was going to be done," said one CAA tow-truck operator after a near-miss during a roadside assistance call.
In 2011, the Slow Down Move Over law became part of Manitoba’s Highway Traffic Act. Most provinces and territories have Slow Down Move Over legislation that mandates motorists must slow down and change lanes, if it is safe to do so, to ensure the safety of emergency workers on the roadside, but it is often not observed.
Learn more about the Slow Down Move Over Day here: caamanitoba.com/slowdown
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