THUNDER BAY – Whether it’s a tow truck, police cruiser or ambulance, it’s not uncommon to see emergency or service vehicles on the side of the road.
But, while the tow truck operators and emergency responders are out doing their jobs, they’re finding many passing motorists aren’t moving over to help keep them safe.
Daniel Pedwysocki, the owner of Dan’s Towing, said as much as you hear stories about how treacherous the job can be, you don’t realize how bad it actually is until you’re the one on the side of the road.
“It’s tough trying to do your job when you’re worrying about other people coming close to you and almost hitting you,” he said. “That’s our workplace. Just move over for us.”
There have been cases locally where tow truck operators have been clipped by side mirrors of passing vehicles and at least one when a company’s support vehicle that was used to help provide a protective block for the tow truck and its operator was struck by another vehicle.
Under the Highway Traffic Act, vehicles on a four-lane roadway are required to slow down and, if safe, switch into the centre lane if safe when passing an emergency or service vehicle. On a two-lane roadway vehicles are required to slow down and give space if possible.
More than 100 tow truck operators are killed on the job every year in North America, according to CAA.
“We have families to go home to,” Pedwysocki. “It’s a big problem. Big problem. I could be on the highway at 3 a.m. doing a provincial police call and they still don’t move over. There’s one car coming down the highway. It’s tough.”
A recent education blitz by Thunder Bay Police Service officers conducted on the Harbour Expressway counted 66 vehicles in a 15-minute span that failed to move over for a tow truck on the side of the road with flashing amber lights.
Const. John Toneguzzi said many motorists seem to be unaware that the move over laws also apply to tow trucks.
“It’s the same fine as if they were passing a police officer on the side of the road with emergency lights on,” Toneguzzi said. “Basically, the lights have to be flashing. They have to be engaged in their work and that’s part of the evidence of the offence.”
Officers did not issue any tickets during the exercise, instead distributing information sheets. A first offence would result in a $490 fine and three demerit points, with a subsequent conviction within five years would be a $1,000 penalty and the possibility of imprisonment.
“It’s frustrating. Last week I was getting angry about it because they’re still going at the same speed if not faster than the posted speed limit,” Toneguzzi said.
“I want to go home at night. The tow truck operators want to go home at night. Every emergency services’ personnel wants to go home at night. Something so simple as just to slow down and move over, it’s an easy thing to do. It’s an easy fix and I don’t know why people can’t see that it’s dangerous operating at that speed beside a vehicle that’s just hugging the side of the road.”
Toneguzzi said it’s ongoing problem that police are trying to stay on top of and wouldn’t rule out conducting future blitzes where tickets and fines would actually be handed out.
