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By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

starts june 30

Province to test blue lights on tow trucks for increased safety

Jun 11, 2022 | 2:37 PM

The province is set to launch a pilot project to test blue lights on tow trucks.

According to the Government of Alberta, sharing numbers from the Alberta Motor Association, there have been at least 36 near misses and 14 serious roadside incidents involving tow trucks and passing vehicle since December 2019.

Between March 2018 and March 2021, there were 128 collisions involving snowplows contracted by Alberta Transportation, and the ministry is working with the University of Alberta to research possible light configuration changes for snowplows.

This pilot project aims to increase visibility of tow trucks in order to avoid these collisions and increase safety.

It will begin on June 30, the province says.

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“I want to thank MLA Brad Rutherford for advocating for this change in his Private Member’s Bill 207,” says Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Transportation. “Too many tow truck drivers are involved in collisions or dangerous situations because motorists have difficulty seeing them while they’re working. This pilot project is intended to increase safety for these operators and will help determine the best lighting for tow trucks in Alberta.”

These changes, the government notes, are on top of recently introduced regulations to protect highway workers under the Traffic Safety Amendment Act.

Starting spring next year, all motorists travelling in the same direction on multi-lane highways will need to slow down to at least 60 km/h and allow one lane of space, where possible, when passing stopped emergency vehicles, tow trucks and roadside workers’ vehicles when their lights are flashing. Motorists travelling in both directions on single-lane highways will be required to slow down when passing roadside vehicles and workers.

“This is a huge step forward in making our industry safer for roadside assistance workers and the motoring public through increased visibility,” says Don Getschel, Towing & Recovery Association of Alberta. “The effectiveness of this change will be noticeable and will save Albertans’ lives.”

The bill which kickstarted this pilot was introduced in the Legislature on April 28.