INSIGHTFUL TALK BY DAN MESSINA ///
MAKING
PROGRESS Move Over In this article, I want to address two very important topics for the towing industry. I want to talk about the “Move Over” laws, and the next-generation tower. I traveled a lot over the past two years, and I was surprised and encouraged by how many motorists would move over when they saw a vehicle on the side of the road. For years, our industry has been trying to address the “Move Over” laws because too many tow operators have been killed while providing towing services for someone on the side of the road. I know the national association is trying to address the “Move Over” laws, and many state associations are doing the same. I was at a trade show recently, and I met gentlemen from Maryland who had a company that engineered the cameras on traffic lights to catch people running red lights. He told me he was contracted by the state of Maryland to do the same by engineering a camera 18
Tow Professional | Volume 9 • Issue 1
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for a tow truck or police vehicle, so they can catch people that don’t move over when approaching vehicles on the side of the road. The state of Maryland realized that too many people were getting hit by passing vehicles that could have been avoided by moving over. His company is trying to push this new feature into as many states as possible. He does not have the connections in other states that can make this happen. I put him in touch with the New Jersey state association because they are working on legislation that would address the “Move Over” law. Little things are being done like one state who made it illegal to be on a cell phone when passing construction areas. I guess that is a start, but we must take it to the next level. The person from Maryland needs your help with connections to your state legislative offices. He feels strongly that other states will adopt his program if he can
