Why Aren't We Listening? The Life-Saving Tool Tow Trucks Still Aren’t Using

By Randall C. Resch

We’ve seen our lion’s share of tow operator fatalities. Yet after crash investigations are completed, why are key safety recommendations so often ignored—especially those that could help reduce future losses? One such recommendation, frequently cited, involves the use of roof-mounted sign boards, commonly known as Variable Message Systems (VMS).

Over the past two decades, states have implemented various Slow Down, Move Over laws aimed at reducing highway fatalities among first responders, highway workers, and tow operators. Yet since 1934, an estimated 671 tow operators have been killed in roadway incidents across the United States—a sobering reminder that more must be done

Grinds My Gears

California leads the nation in on-duty, on-highway tow operator deaths. Thirty-five years of collecting data has recorded 86-on-highway incidents dating back to the 1930’s. The data suggests that California tow operators have worked on-highway incidents under vulnerable conditions for better than 95-years only to overlook lessons learned.

Fifty-five years ago, California tow trucks were equipped with traffic flares and large orange incident signs, which tow operators would deploy at the scene. Over time, that requirement gradually faded, and today many tow operators are neither required nor inclined to use cones, flares, or warning signs—despite strong recommendations from FACE, NIOSH, CDC, OSHA, and select industry instructors.

Exploring Lessons Learned

On May 31, 2023, a tow truck operator with just six months of experience responded to a highway call involving a disabled vehicle stranded atop a gore point on California’s Golden State Freeway (I-5). At around 11 p.m., the vehicle was positioned so deep into the gore point that it was described as 'a sitting duck' at the apex of a southbound onramp.

In an area where six lanes of traffic sped past the vehicle’s location, attempting to load it onto a carrier without assistance proved fatal. While working alone to recover the vehicle, the tow operator was struck and killed—allegedly while standing in lane six. One must ask: could this tragedy have been prevented by requesting a highway patrol presence at the scene?

Obvious Recommendations

As a result of the tower’s fatality, beyond the initial fatality investigation by California’s Highway Patrol, came an additional, in-depth investigation by California Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program.

According to its website, California FACE is a NIOSH-funded occupational fatality surveillance program aimed at preventing fatal workplace injuries by examining the worker, the work environment, and the roles of management, engineering, and behavior in future injury prevention.

When fatalities like this occur in California, fatality investigators dig deep to uncover what actions led to the towers demise and what recommendations can be passed forward to the workforce. According to Hank Cierpich, Fatality Investigator/Consultant, for California’s, FACE, in part, he wrote the following recommendation:

Recommendation #4: Promote use of variable messaging signs (VMS) to help direct traffic away from roadside responders. Roadside service and incident response personnel, including law enforcement officers, emergency responders, and towing and service operators, have a high incidence of severe occupational injury while responding to traffic incidents and providing roadside services. Research was conducted in 2023 on the efficacy of variable messaging signs (VMS) when aiding motorists during breakdowns. This study found that when the VMS was active, drivers were more likely to move over (change lanes) and slow down than when the VMS was not active. The odds of a vehicle moving over were 95% higher when the VMS was used. Had a VMS sign been used in this incident, the driver may have moved over to avoid the tow truck.”

Heed the Message

FACE Investigator Cierpich recommended that equipping on-highway tow trucks with Variable Message Sign (VMS) systems would be a 'solid and prudent' measure to provide 'advance emergency warning' to approaching traffic.

Day or night, a clear and visible VMS message acts as a visual alert—warning approaching motorists to stay alert and watch for tow operators at work. If the benefit is so evident, why aren’t on-highway tow trucks federally required by highway or law enforcement agencies to be equipped with VMS systems?

As suggested by FACE Investigator Cierpich, “Wouldn’t it be nice that 95-percent of on-highway traffic would move over because there were obvious and visual warnings ahead?” His message makes perfect sense. Why not adhere to his recommendation?         

Operations Editor Randall C. Resch is a retired, veteran, California police officer, former tow business owner and industry advocate. As consultant and trainer, he authored and teaches tow truck operator safety courses approved by the California Highway Patrol. For 55-years, he has been involved in the towing and recovery industry. In 29-years, he has contributed more than 760-safety focused articles for American Towman Magazine, TowIndustryWeek.com and is a frequent seminar presenter and beauty pageant judge at tow shows. In 2014, he was inducted to the International Towing and Recovery Industry Hall of Fame, was the 3rd recipient of the industry's "Dave Jones Leadership Award," and is a member of American Towman’s Safety Committee.

Email Randy at rreschran@gmail.com.