Discussions

So I want to get the general publics opinion. I would like to know if changing the lights on tow trucks would make a difference or not. That's say instead of Amber we go with what the Saskatchewan government has done for towing companies and change to Red and Amber. Now the reason I am choosing red and amber is because Manitoba highways is using blue and yellow lights on their plow trucks and graders. Do you think a change in lights would make a difference. Would it help people slow down and move over because people could maybe identify tow trucks from construction equipment better? I'd like your thoughts on this topic. Thanks

In reality it doesn’t matter if it’s a tow truck, snowplow or construction equipment with lights flashing. Everyone should be slowing down. Those lights are on for a reason and until you know what is coming up you should be approaching with caution. Honestly what’s the difference between slowing down for a tow truck or construction equipment... either way it’s somebody’s life on the line the tow truck driver and the equipment operator. It shouldn’t matter what colour the lights are people just need to slow down.

I really do think that changing the colour of tow truck lights would help get tow trucks noticed from further away and would most likely save a life of a tow truck operator and his or hers customer/s let's help get them all home to there families safe and sound MOVE OVER SLOW DOWN it only takes a second to save a life or take one thx hope

You are completely right. My better half did mention that exact statement and I did try to edit my original post. However I was just brain storming ideas. And no I was not trying to say that tow trucks are better then anyone else. Just not everyone think like you do.

Honestly think the only lights that will make people slow down are red and blues, people are ignorant to road hazards but very cautious of their pocket books, if that makes sense, unfortunately most think they are too important to slow down.

would, but as a person that runs red/white lights on big red trucks with lots of reflective stickers on it, it doesn't matter at all what you do! In my past profession I was pulled over with DOT and watched his hat get blown off by 1 driver ad he had his red/blue's flashing and there were 2 vehicles in a row with lights flashing.  
I was coming back from portage 1 day and saw a tow truck all lit up loading a broken down motorist. I pulled over, slowed down and looked in my mirror and there was an idiot racing up in the slow lane. I moved over hoping to slow him down, he moved into the passing lane, so I took both lanes (don't care if it was unsafe, he was NOT passing me at that speed in the slow lane by the operator) and he passed me half in the median flipping me the bird. People don't care about you, or me as we are helping stranded/distressed people on the side of the road.  
The only thing that's going to slow them down is a video camera with speed reading set up to get their license and file a report so they get their ticket and day in court!  
It also may be that we have become too desensitized to flashing lights. Construction zones are miles long, set up and no one is working. Tow trucks have their beacons on while in tow (which has always confused me, we could only run them in BC when we were hooking the car, but in tow had to be off unless it was a hazard). Hwy workers put them on just to sit on the shoulder to do computer work. Just too many lights and no reason for it, so when there is a reason people think it's for no reason. I don't know, I'm trying to give another perspective!! But it's very frustrating, I feel your pain.....at least I have 5-15 other guys to watch my back. Good luck and stay safe!

You hit the nail on the head. As a former heavy tow truck operator I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count how many times I’ve almost been turned into road pizza. I used to use magnetic red and blues that I would stick on the back of the disabled semi as I was hooking up. Made little to no difference. On one recovery we were lucky to have a cop sitting in between the trucks (we had a slow to 60 sign up the road) two big tow truck lit right up and this woman blows by us at 140. Needless to say hopefully the ticket she got for that taught her a lesson. To my fellow tow brothers and sisters and all emergency personnel, keep your head on a swivel, stay safe and watch each other’s back. All it takes is one mis-step at the wrong time and it’s game over. SLOW DOWN AND MOVE OVER!!!!!!