President’s Letter: A Call for Safety
Anyone who stops on the side of the road—drivers, emergency responders, anyone—is at risk. Slow down and move over to help them stay safe.
If you’ve ever been rescued on the roadside by AAA, you know firsthand how heroic those drivers are. They show up, no matter the risk, to do what can be an incredibly dangerous job. It’s a sobering reality that across the nation, an emergency responder is struck and tragically killed on the side of the road on average once every two weeks. We urgently need your help to address this crisis.
The effort to protect these heroes began decades ago. In 1994, a young paramedic in South Carolina was seriously injured on a highway while responding to a call for help. After recovering, he became a traffic safety advocate, fighting for laws requiring drivers to slow down and move over for roadside workers. His tireless efforts led to South Carolina passing the nation’s first “Move Over” law in 1996.
Today, with vital support from AAA and many other traffic safety organizations, “Move Over” laws exist in all 50 states. Still, roadside danger remains unacceptably high. Driver behavior has been slow to change, and public awareness remains critically low.
At AAA Mountain West Group, we’re doing our part to change that. Internally, we implemented a rigorous safety training program to help our drivers recognize potential hazards and reduce their own risk. We’re also equipping our trucks with high-visibility inflatable air-bars and large digital message boards to alert drivers and remind them to slow down and move over.
AAA Mountain West Group will continue to advocate for solutions to this issue. But to make the biggest impact, we need your help. For 125 years, our Members have answered the call to make our roads safer, and we need your collective action once more. Help us raise awareness about the critical importance of slowing down and moving over for all roadside workers—our tow truck drivers, as well as emergency responders and maintenance crews. Word of mouth is a powerful thing, and your voice can make a difference. Spread the word to your family and friends. Drive safely and help protect our roadside heroes.
Finally, as we enter the season of giving, please consider supporting the families of these heroes. The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum established a Survivor Fund, which provides immediate financial support to the families of towing operators who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Driving forward with gratitude and optimism,
Marshall L. Doney
President and CEO