LOGAN – Tow truck operators in Utah are celebrating Move Over Day this Saturday, Sept. 28, as a day set aside to raise awareness of safety concerns of first responders, including tow truck operators, law enforcement, medical and other emergency workers.
Drivers are endangering the lives of these emergency personnel by not moving over when they are doing their jobs on Utah’s roadways.
Gerald Leishman of Tom’s Service in Wellsville talks about the dangers of operating a tow truck in Utah on Monday Sept. 23, 2024.
This year is the fourth annual Move Over Day held by the Utah Professional Towing Alliance (UPTA). Most of the activities are being held at Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City, tow truck operators in Cache Valley are supporting their efforts from afar.
Brett Reeder, owner of RC Towing in Brigham City and vice president of the state tow truck association, said having people not move over while first responders are helping accident victims is a problem across the state. It’s not only having them move over for tow trucks, they don’t move over for other emergency responders either.
“It is absolutely a problem, we see it everywhere across the state,” he said. “It is more dangerous on the interstate. People are flying by at 80 mph, and they don’t slow down or move over while we are working. They get too close, and it is scary.”
The National Safety Commission reported more than 150 U.S. law enforcement officers have been killed since 1999 after being struck by vehicles along America’s highways.
“The UPTA is having a tow truck parade at the Move Over Day celebration and they are having face painting, a tow truck beauty contest, a silent auction, food trucks and other activities for people to enjoy,” Reeder said. “This activity has gotten bigger every year, and we are trying to bring awareness to anybody who helps clearing the roadway.”
To lower the deadly toll of first responders being killed on highways, a new coalition of traffic safety and law enforcement groups launched a nationwide public awareness campaign to protect emergency responders along our nation’s roadsides.
Gerald Leishman of Tom’s Service in Wellsville said even in Cache Valley things get pretty intense while trying to tow a car down the highway.
“Nobody wants to slow down or mover over,” he said. “I’ve even had school bus drivers who don’t move over four different times. And there was no one in the other lane.”
Tow truck drivers get called day or night in all kinds of weather conditions and have to crawl under wrecked cars and try to get them off the highway. Sometimes they have to haul them back to the highway.
“It can get really dangerous,” Leishman said. “You’re taking your life in your hands when you go out on a call.”
“Tow truck drivers have to be certified by the state.” he added. “I think there are 10 or 12 tow truck companies in Cache County.”
The Utah Professional Towing Alliance was formed to foster and nurture and serve the public interest by educating the public about the towing & recovery profession. They also encourage members to provide the public with adequate professional services, by operating with safety and dispatch, by using quality equipment, and by utilizing well-trained and courteous personnel.