rreschran

Hey GM - You offer up a great perspective about the number of hours and number of police personnel to work a single fatality event. I don't condone an officer that overlooks public safety because it's not convenient. I simply provide a glimpse as to the reality of lack of funds, minimal staffing, days-off, busy police and criminal activity, or, that individual officer who pick's and chooses his enforcement activity. The bottom-line suggests, that people get "stupid in-public" without care of injury or death of someone else; sometimes there's not enough cops in the right place and the right time to catch em' all ... just like that we saw in that video of the tow truck that road-raged those bicylists. R.

As Ron mentioned, over 100-mph in California can be an arrestable offense. But, get into the officer's head just for a second. Cite and release is a 10-minute process versus making an arrest, impound the vehicle, write the impound report, wait for the tow truck, take the arrested party for, "booking slip", approval at the Watch Commander's desk, transport to jail, wait in-line at the sally port, write the arrest report, get it signed, all the while, chasing calls on the radio. Much of that is about having the elements of the crime arrested for. If the elements aren't there ... let em' go. R.

A west coast tow company is being sued and an attorney group has contacted me regarding my opinion to industry practices. This post isn't about tow company's right or wrong actions, but about what comments I see posted on Yelp-like social media sites, or the BBB. In short, I looked to review the tow company's website and what was posted "good" or "bad" about their contacts and reputation. As a whole, there are too many tow companies that I don't think monitor what's being said about them. Personally, I'm pretty confident when I say a companies reputation can easily be assumed to be the basis of the a lawsuit. I really like to see where tow companies are out-in-front of damaging customer complaints, email, or, customers and vehicle owner's who use social media to slam tow companies. While some tow owners feel social media is, "made up information", complaints can be really damaging when viewed by others, especially new customers. So, I ask, do you monitor what's being said about your company? Even if a complaint is true, are you out in-front to do some damage contro. For example: I'm looking for a contractor for a repair project at my house. I reviewed several contractor sites to see several companies with great reviews, yet another with several really bad complaints saying the company did damage, and then failed to return the customer's calls. The customer trashed the company. Because no one responded back to attempt to correct any problems, and because there were others unanswered complaints, I shied away from calling that company. Note: Once a complaint is posted, they typically won't go away. As far as the tow company in the suit I mentioned at the beginning, I turned the case down as I knew their reputation and the issue at hand would work against them. Knowing that, I pose three questions. One, what do you do to trouble-shoot or monitor your company's website or service sites, and two, do you do anything to protect your reputation, or do you think these sites are a waste of time? Personally, I like those companies that make an effort to justify, calm, or resolve, or even thank their customers. A successful or amicable handling of a customer's complaint could result in them writing a better review versus that of simply being trashed. Fair or unfair, ignoring concerns can only have an effect on your repeated business. Wouldn't you agree? R

According to the author, Rob Lawrence, he writes, "Additionally, NHTSA administers over $500 million in grant programs annually. NHTSA awards grants for occupant protection, state traffic safety information systems, impaired driving countermeasures, distracted driving, motorcyclist safety, state graduated driver licensing laws and non-motorized safety." His narrative falls-short of any mention of throwing some of that grant money at protecting tow operators under grant programs initiated by NHTSA. If it's known that tow operators represent the highest number of pedestrian strikes, why is there no focus at the root cause of tow operator deaths? All he's saying what's been known for years. R.

When it comes to that get er' done mentality by most operators, especially where a towers actions are simply dangerous and illegal ... I remember my dad saying, "Learn when to say NO!" Most cops don't know what those things' weigh and it's their focus to get the street or intersection cleared even if the little engine that could is grossly overloaded. Good solution Eric. R.

Just like California has a, "National Move-Over Day", or, "Ride a Bike to Work Day", what if Virginia towers were to have a, "We Ain't Towin' No Cars For The Day", day in support of no-expanded protections for tow operators? Wouldn't that be a hoot. R.

This case is one to watch as it claims and blames the move-over law for being a major factor. I think both Plaintiff and Defense have will have to put on quite a show to plead their cases. While the move-over law has its merits, it can create a deadly set of, immediate and, "in your face", cirumstances for anyone not 110-percent aware of their surroundings. Note: a conviction for reckless driving is really hard to prove. R.

Ron ... did you see the multitude of Facebook posts that chastised the Missouri media because the news initially reported the person struck was referred to as a, "pedestrian"? People who aren't in the business of emergency services, or, they don't know what the reporting process is about, have plenty to say out of their personal opinions. R.

Agreed Ron ... I like your comment ... "likely a continuous unsafe practice". At the misforotune of others, none-the-less there's a valuable less to be learned. R.

This 2017 driving and Karoke segment is another form of distracted driving ... even the news reported openly identifies the dangers. As far as the dollies go, someone is riding in a, "towed vehicle", all the while thetowed vehicle is NOT safety strapped. R.

Yeah ... that certainly was an "OH SHIT" moment. I think it's easy to sumise that this pickup truck and trailer weren't your everyday flatbed carrier in process of loading a disabled vehicle and I don;t kow the circumstances. It's easy to ask ... "Who's a fault here?" This video is a great training tool for tow owners and tow operators to focus on court questioning that asks two specific questions, "Mr. Trailer Owner, why were you parked in a live-traffic lane", and two,"What did you do to identify your working zone?" While I see one cone may have been placed curbside before the trailer, but what about the other cone(s) in the back of the pickup? While I don't know if the pickup and trailer were simply stalled or otherwise, a video like this one has great value to the driver of the white-vehicle when it goes to court. The lesson learned here is to make your work zone obvious using flares, cones or signs.

It's about time law enforcement realized the importance and dangers of vehicle recovery during ice and snow emergencies. This is a safety practice that all law enforcement should take a really close look at. Additionally, once vehicle removal is authorized by the Sheriff, a deputy should be assigned to accompany the tow truck to each recovery scene and remain present during total recovery and removal. After all of the recent (rash) of tow trucks and first responder strikes and fatalities, it seems like the approach to highway work is starting to change in the way towing and recovery is done. I personally believe that saving lives of pedestrian workers should be the number-one focus of highway response, making that of motorist inconvenience, secondary crashes and the loss of economy being secondary considerations. Note: Secondary crashes are important to realize, however, those motorists involved in secondary crashes are inside their vehicles protected by seatbelts, air-bags, and with the vehicle's body to protect them. Those poor souls tasked with working in these incredibly dangerous environments are MOST at risk and don't stand a chance when a vehicle plow's into a worker's unsuspecting body. I believe preservation of life should and must take prescedence over everything else. Wouldn't you agree? R.

After reading the bad news report of the tow operator killed in Missouri last Firday, I guess the media is having a tough time putting two and two together. A tow truck parked at the scene of a vehicle crash ... Oh No ! ! ! Is it safe to go out? Perhaps the tow truck was witness to the white car crashing into the wall, or, maybe they were called there to begin with? Could have been involved? May have been involved? Why report it at all if there aren't details? Slow news week I guess. R.

Thanks Rebecca for adding your personality and charm to the cause of Slow-Down Move-Over, although, I think it means something different in your racing circle ... more like ... "If ya' slow-down ... git' the hell out of the way", right? R.

Wow, what a great video that represents that long-time feud between motorists and bicycle riders. I did quick research on tow trucks vs. bicycles finding a boatload of Internet articles where tow trucks and bicyclists were involved. Since July last year, there were numerous collisions in California, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Boston, New York, Florida, Georgia, and New Jersey where bicyclists were injured or killed when they tangled tow trucks. Most bicyclists tangled with tow trucks that were turning and the tow truck’s driver didn’t see them, or, the bicyclist ran a red light. Clearly, NOT in this case. The video is a good representation of both motorists and bicyclists who think THEY own the road. What vehicle operators don’t know is that the wording of some state laws may not require bicyclists to ride to the farthest right side of the road. Like Ron mentioned, “Sharing the Road”, is a mindset that motorists and cyclists need to practice. If I were to what led up to this altercation, I believe that the tow truck may have been following these cyclists for some time which elevated his blood pressure. While I didn’t see a posted speed limit sign, I’d venture to say that the speed limit for this stretch of inner-city roadway is 25-miles per hour. The tow truck passed these riders at perhaps 35-mph + based on a visual estimation. On a narrow roadway with cross-traffic, signal lights and wet pavement, would this driving incident be considered Reckless Driving? California’s 23103a, “Reckless Driving”, defined is, “A person who drives a vehicle upon a highway in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.” A conviction of reckless can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or felony based on a non-injury act, or, whether or not someone was injured or killed. As perceived by a witnessing officer, the tow operator could be arrested, jailed and their tow truck impounded. The video is good evidence that the tower is minimally guilty of reckless driving. A multi-point arrest and conviction of reckless driving could be the tow operator’s, “death knell”, of being removed from the company’s insurance. While I’m not sticking up for either group, calm heads prevail right? The tower could have been having one of, “those days”, letting the actions of these riders over-loaded him, especially the guy riding, "Look Ma ... No Hands." Fast forward to the window-banging altercation between the tower and the cyclist, what’s to say the bicyclist wasn't armed with a gun only to over-react and shoot the tower? Bicycles are everywhere and cyclists also have to be aware that their riding actions create agitation to following motorists. But, answer me this, “Are two bicycle riders, riding side-by-side, equally as wide as a standard automobile? Would a following vehicle have to drive equally as slow so to follow a slow-moving vehicle?” It’s easy to see why both parties over-reacted. And, while it doesn’t justify the tower’s actions, it's the actions on one employee, not that of the tow company. For sure ... this video is going into my training classes. R. I’m including a link to an article written on the topic that (accurately) defends a bicyclist’s rights, while keeping in-mind the article defends bicycle riders in California. Link: https://ocbike.org/bicycle-law/graduate-degree-in-bicycle-law/

I've seen the Holmes trees that Orcas has to his avail ... we're lucky even to have something like that around here. There's an old wive's tale that says, "If a tree if 50-feet tall, its tap root will be half its height." I don't believe that one for a second. Maybe I'll add the topic, "Tree Roots 101", in my CHP safety classes? Ark. R.

We're praying for his quick recovery too. Although it's not mentioned, I'd like to know what caused the motorist to go onto the shoulder? R.

Hi Guys ... Another news link CONFIRMS the death of the tow operator as mentioned by Ron's initial post. Here's a second news article link: https://ozarksindependent.com/2020/02/08/tow-truck-driver-struck-and-killed-on-highway-65/ My message is bound to make waves in the "over-sensitive" community, but there's a reality of what was reported and how it was reported. While the news article mentions only a pedestrian being killed, I personally think there was enough information to believe it was a tow operator having read hundreds of accident investigations. I read the statements on the FB page and I don't necessarily agree what all the respondents are saying. And yes, this is a sensitive issue, but it does not negate the fact that the person killed was a pedestrian. I do like that FB respondents are sticking up for tow truck operators, but the news wasn't wrong in their reporting nor were they disrespecting the fact that the deceased was a tow operator. Like Ron said, I too don't like to make conclusions as to what I read in the news as we wait for an official notification. But, remember, when a tow operator is struck and killed on the highway or city streets, the deceased is referred to as, "pedestrian", as that's what the report calls for ... not that of, "tow operator". And, until the next of kin is notified, "pedestrian" is the typical reference that's used by law enforcement until the reporting officer make's further mention within the body of the investigation. I know this with certaintly having been a police accident investigator for five-years and have taken hundreds of accident reports. And, combine that info with the statement that reads, "standing next to a 2018 Dodge 5500", those are pretty good indicators that the incident was that of a tow operator. In most reporting accounts, the deceased was not driving a vehicle and was outside of his truck. When you exit a truck and go boots to the ground, you become a, "pedestrian worker". Most likely, the news simply reported the occurrance from the police log or blotter. R.

The recent homicide of a Florida highway patrol officer may have been the result of a vehicle's owner who wigged-out over the process and payment of tow services. Last year, I accounted as many as 12x tow operators killed in crimes of violence. Most of them were shootings caused by towing turf wars, but there were several atalities as the result of shootings, a stabbing, and one tower being beat to death over tow rates or altercations at the tow company office or at the tow location. FACT: Violence is a daily occurance over the world and it happens without notice. Drugs, alcohol, family issues, divorce, loss of a job, or any other host of factors may push someone over the edge. What safety precautions do you take? Remember, calm head's prevail. We've heard the, "Just shoot em' in the face", mentality, but a loaded gun with one in the hole does you no good if it's under the seat of your wrecker. So, you're on-scene, your customer starts getting heated, what do you do, what techniques do you employ to try and lessen an aggressive personality? How much crap are you supposed to take, do you engage, or simply leave your customer to their own accord? R.

This weeks recent death of an airport TUG operator prompted this question regarding the dangers of flat-towing. Although I personally haven't flat-towed a truck in many, many years, have any of you big-rig heavy towers used flat-towing (bar v. chain) as the last resort to get the job done, or, so you don't lose the tow to a competitor? From the possibilities of the airport incident, flat-towing and accidents like the run-over fatality are common in aircraft circles. I think the causes of the accident are pretty clear, one, the tug's operator sits forward and facing away from the aircraft's landing gear, two, the tow bar is low and between the rear pintle of the tug and the aircraft's landing gears, and three, the pilot sits high and above the tug and the landing gear. Because there's little to no time to react to a tow bar of components that snap, I think the potential of being run-over is imminent. Flat-towing a semi-truck has its own considerations for safety and in some cases, is a necessary technique in opening a lane(s) or moving the disabled truck to another location. If ya' can't lift it, is it too dangerous to drag it? For this industry, what safety considerations are there? If I were an aircraft parts inventor, perhaps an in-line, emergency braking valve could be part of the tow-bar's connectivity, where, if the bar were to break or disconnect, the aircraft's brakes would immediately lock. But, out of that action, 50-passengers would wind-up with broken teeth or busted noses resulting in extensive lawsuits. Perhaps that poor tug operator's death will go down as a simple, non preventable accident when pending lawsuits out trump the basis of correction. If you were that inventor of really cool stuff, what ideas would you have to help prevent these kinds of run-over incidents from happening to include prohibiting a second person as a non-necessary ride-along? See ... our industry isn't the only one to experience lessons learned. R.

This story is eerily similar to the October 1934 shooting, ambush, double homicide in-which California tow operator Kenneth Ray Davis . Davis responded to tow a CHP impound when the vehicle's owner came out of the bushes, shot and killed Davis, and then engaged in a gun-battle with the CHP officer. The CHP officer, although mortally shot, was able to get off a couple of shot to wound the shooter before he died. The shooter ran to his home, but was later hunted and killed by a sheriff's possee. Not that towers have enough to be concerned with, there's always a possibility that someone will snap when confronted with having to pay. YodaBen's comment make perfect sense in whether or not leave or call the cops? I firmly believe that several past cases of tow operator death's by violence were the result of escalation. Christine and I send our prayers to FHP Officer Bullock who simply stepped into another psycho with a gun. R.

Hey Grumps ... thanks for the pictures as it leads me to a different question ... has anyone every BROKE a Holmes Tree? If you have a, "yes", answer, what happened? Also, may I have your permission to use the last picture in a PowerPointe on carriers? R

While this ISN'T your typical towing scenario, a TUG operator pulling a regulation sized aircraft was run-over and killed when the TUG's nose-bar detached. Bacause the nose-bar is behind the TUG and under the aircraft's nose, it wasn't immediately seen where the TUG operator nor the pilot could have reacted in tim. The TUUG's driver was killed and a second person on-board the tug was injured. Christine and I send our prayers to the operator and their family. What a horrible accident. Attached is the news video that I'll consider graphic to some viewers. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7977511/Boeing-737-crushes-tow-truck-driver-death-pulled-gate-Bangkok-airport.html

I'm personally not aware of ANY state that allows a wrecker or carrier to respond in emergency mode while under AMBER lights. In the May and Septemer 2019 issues of American Towman, Brian Riker wrote a thorough article to cover lighting laws in 50-states. At the moment, I think Brian is out and about delivering another truck, so, on his behalf, here's a link he posted on TowForce in response to this topic. Unfortunately, too many towers think they're first responders perhaps on their perception of wording used in TIM training. Until such time there is legislation and changes to current law, tow trucks will NOT be authorized to roll in a Code-3 manner, unless that tow truck is part of that agencies first responder network, i.e., Los Angeles Fire Department Heavy-Rescue, DOT, or many of the state's bridge authorities across America. The missing component for us towers is (state mandated) formal driver's training. Currently, there are NO formal, state accredited (large vehicle) tow truck training driving courses to suggest high-speed operations for tow truck response comparable to fire apperatus or EMT-Ambulance driving modules. To suggest a tow truck or carrier respond at high-speed is safe to begin with, there's nothing more incorrect ... and that's obvious based on the number of tow operator fatalities killed responding to calls. So, for the Oregon tower abusing his lighting and safe response protocols ... just move-over to avoid a case of road-rage and let him pass. Eventually, some cop might spot his behavior and write him a cite. R.

Hey Mark ... One of my favorite local restaurants had one of those incessant SDG&E power outages we're famous for here in Southern California. When the power went out, they whipped-out an old-style credit card machine and it was business as usual. Here's to hoping that we'll still have power during y3k. R.