By Justin Dionne

Local company starts letter-writing campaign to improve safety for tow truck drivers

Jan 3, 2019 | 11:16 AM

A Grande Prairie tow truck company is calling on Transportation Minister Brian Mason for changes to the Traffic Safety Act.
 
A letter-writing campaign has been started by Harold’s Towing and Recovery’s Devon Tretiak.
 
The campaign is calling on the Province to change the colour of tow truck lights from amber to blue and white, and also calls for better enforcement of the Slow Down Move Over laws.
 
Tretiak is encouraging everybody to take part in the letter writing campaign to improve safety for Alberta tow truck drivers.
 
“I’ve had close calls on the road and I know every single one of our drivers had close calls on the road,” says Tretiak. “You see it in the news all the time about tow truck drivers being hit or killed and it’s just happening more and more often. We need to get our friends and families home safe every night.”
 
Tretiak notes the primary goal is to change the colour of tow truck lights in the province, but the overall goal is to unify tow companies across Alberta and have a lobbying party promoting the safety of tow truck drivers.
 
“Right now the primary thing is the lights, but we also want better enforcement of the Slow Down Move Over laws, whether that’s working in partnership with our police forces, or RCMP, or city enforcement, whatever the case may be.”
 
Last year had its share of traffic accidents involving tow truck drivers, including an incident near Valleyview last January which has both RCMP and tow truck companies calling on motorists to slow down and keep safety in mind when passing tow trucks.

The Transportation Minister responded to Everything GP after asking for comment on the campaign and tow truck safety. 

“Our government has heard concerns about the visibility of tow trucks working on highways. There are protections for the operators of tow trucks, emergency vehicles and construction vehicles built into the Traffic Safety Act. Nevertheless, we are always willing to look at new methods to ensure first responders are able to work safely. Alberta Transportation is currently reviewing whether allowing blue lights on tow trucks would be an appropriate measure to take. Enhancing safety is our goal, and we are consulting with police services with regards to the use of blue flashing lights on non-police vehicles. Under the Traffic Safety Act, drivers are required to slow down to a maximum of 60 kms/hr when passing a tow truck in the adjacent lane.”

-Brian Mason, Minister of Transportation