"Any time something like this happens, it's devastating to our industry, said Gary Vandenheuvel, president of the Professional Towing Association of Ontario (PTAO). It's a small industry and we all know each other in one way or another. It's always a concern because everybody knows it could be one of us, any day. The crash that happened around 7 a.m. in Oxford County is still under investigation as police search for the vehicle and driver involved."
"While that search continues, Vandenheuvel said tow truck operators are well aware of the risks involved working on the sides of highways and city streets, and say drivers don't give them space to do their jobs safely. He's been running a family towing business in Sarnia for the last 34 years, and says he's had too many close calls. It happens way too much. We're seeing it on a regular basis [across North America], Vandenheuvel said."
"The Highway Traffic Act has clear requirements when it comes to driver behaviour around emergency vehicles and tow trucks. Part of those requirements is the legal obligation to slow down and, if possible, move aside for the trucks. The fines for disobeying can reach up to $4,000, three demerit points, six months in jail and licence suspension for up to two years."
A tow truck operator was killed in a hit-and-run while stopped on Highway 401 outside Woodstock, Ontario. The vehicle and driver remain under investigation as police search for the responsible party. Towing industry members expressed devastation and concern, noting the small, interconnected nature of the profession and the regular occurrence of dangerous incidents. Operators report frequent close calls while working on highway and city street shoulders because drivers fail to slow down and move over. The Highway Traffic Act requires drivers to slow and, where possible, move aside for emergency vehicles and tow trucks, and fines and penalties can be substantial.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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