CAA Manitoba is reminding drivers that everyone deserves a safe place to work and asks motorists to slow down and move over when they see a tow truck driver working at the side of the road.

It’s also the law in every province and in the Northwest Territoris in Canada.

In Manitoba, the Slow Down Move Over law requires drivers to slow down when a vehicle operator is working along the roadside. If the posted speed limit is less than 80 km/h, drivers are required to slow down to 40 km/h. If the posted speed limit is 80 km/h or higher, drivers are required to slow down to 60 km/h.

Across North America, more than 100 tow truck drivers have died in the past decade after they were struck by oncoming traffic while working to help motorists on the side of the road.

“Tow truck operators face a high risk of injury when on the side of the road or in a live lane helping stranded drivers. These are real people with friends, families and loved ones,” said Ewald Friesen, manager of government and community relations CAA Manitoba, in a news release. “CAA Manitoba will always advocate for their safety to create safer roads across Manitoba for everyone, including those working alongside it.”

CAA Manitoba’s recent survey of drivers in that province suggests that most motorists slow down, but they do so more often for other emergency service providers, including police (95 per cent), ambulances (93 per cent), fire trucks (89 per cent) and tow trucks (70 per cent).

“Everyone deserves a safe place to work, including tow truck operators who are working in extremely unsafe conditions,” said Friesen in the release. “CAA Manitoba will continue to educate the public on road safety, and bring awareness to the laws that have been put in place to protect tow operators along with other emergency roadside assistance.”

Dig Insights conducted an online survey on behalf of CAA Manitoba between Oct. 26 and Nov. 6, 2023 of 758 Manitoba drivers aged 18 to 75 years. Based on the sample size and the confidence level (95 per cent), the margin of error for this study was +/- three per cent, CAA Manitoba says.

Alerts

The national Canadian Automobile Association and HAAS Alert announced May 13 that every province in Canada is now covered by Safety Cloud digital alerts.

Safety Cloud works with CAA systems to send out warning messages in navigation apps alerting drivers when there is a tow truck with a stranded vehicle on the shoulder. The messages encourage drivers to slow down and move over.

“CAA and our clubs, including BCAA and AMA, have long advocated for the protection of roadside assistance workers through Slow Down, Move Over legislation across the country,” said Ian Jack, vice-president of public affairs, CAA National, in a news release. “Partnering with HAAS Alerts is another step CAA is taking to protect our drivers.”

Safety Cloud digital alerts work in navigation apps in most 2018 or newer Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles, as well as in leading navigation apps, such as Waze and Apple Maps. The alerts are specific to CAA member roadside calls but will be visible to anyone who uses the specified alerting platforms.