CAA Slow Down Move Over is a safety and public awareness initiative in observance of first responders working on our highways, including tow truck operators, construction crews, paramedics, law enforcement, firefighters, and highway patrol staff. CAA Saskatchewan designates the second Tuesday in May annually, as Slow Down Move Over to bring attention to this important safety issue.
This year’s CAA Slow Down Move Over Day is Tuesday, May 14, 2024. However, the entire month of May will be devoted to Slow Down Move Over for continued safety education and awareness for all motorists to help keep our tow truck operators and other first responders safe.
This year’s Slow Down Move Over campaign will be promoted via newly produced television commercials and social media messages that focus on two CAA Regina Fleet tow truck operators. They share important messages about their personal safety when working on Saskatchewan roads and highways, helping motorists in need.
“On a daily basis, we’re reminded of the dangers of our profession as first responders working to help motorists in need on Saskatchewan roads,” said CAA Tow Truck Operator, Kurt Elmer. “Motorists must respect tow truck operators, who are working to help keep them safe. At the end of our shifts, we just want to return home to our loved ones.”
“Pay attention at all times when you’re driving,” said CAA Tow Truck Operator, Stephen Romans. “There have been too many close calls. We are out there on the side of the road helping stranded motorists. It’s a matter of life and death! Slow down move over!”
It's the law to slow to 60 km/h for all first responders working on Saskatchewan highways. Slow down move over when it’s safe to do so. Read Slow Down Move Over: Ensuring Road Safety for Everyone to learn more.
Safety Cloud © HAAS Alert System
To enhance the safety of roadside assistance for tow truck operators, CAA Saskatchewan has implemented the Safety Cloud© HAAS Alert system for the CAA Regina Fleet. The HAAS Alert system will send CAA-specific warnings to popular traffic and navigation apps. Through the Telematics system installed on the trucks, when the beacons are activated, Safety Cloud© by HAAS Alert will send warning messages of “CAA Saskatchewan On Scene Slow Down and Move Over” to alerting platforms that include the world’s largest navigation apps including Waze, and vehicles covered by the Stellantis Group OEM (Dodge, Jeep, RAM, Chrysler, and Alfa Romeo). The alerts are specific to CAA Member rescue calls but will be visible to anyone who uses the alerting platforms.
Background
- Across Canada, there are more than 7,500 tow truck operators employed by or contracted to provincial CAA clubs. Each receives ongoing training, plus equipment like reflective pylons and high-visibility clothing.
- On March 17, 2024, while Borden Fire and Rescue responded to a call of an accident involving a vehicle and a deer at 6:40 a.m., an emergency vehicle on scene was hit by a passing vehicle. There were no injuries.
- In 2023, the White City Fire and Rescue responded to a call of an accident on Highway #1. While there, an emergency vehicle on scene, with a firefighter inside, was struck by another motorist. The firefighter was injured as a result.
- In January 2021, a tow truck operator was involved in a serious collision while working on a highway near North Battleford, Saskatchewan.
- An Oshawa tow truck driver was killed in 2019 while assisting a motorist on a highway near Durham, Ontario.
- Tragically, a tow truck operator near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, was struck and killed in 2017 while working during a blizzard.
- CAA Saskatchewan worked with key safety stakeholders to lobby the Government of Saskatchewan for new legislation allowing tow trucks to display blue lights in addition to amber lights when assisting motorists. In April 2017, Saskatchewan became the first province to permit this additional safety precaution.
- While the exact number of collisions involving tow trucks is unknown, data from CAA National indicates that each year in North America, dozens of tow operators are killed while doing their jobs. Each one of these deaths is entirely preventable: Slow down move over.