'Move over' law rarely followed, says tow truck operator
Bob Rice, a manger at Avalon Towing in St. John's, says drivers need to familiarize themselves with the 'move over' law, a provincial strategy to protect emergency workers and tow truck operators at accident scenes.
The law came into effect last May, and stipulates that drivers must slow down or stop when passing people working by the side of a road.
Drivers are also required to give those workers a wide berth.
"We're finding it hasn't been very effective," Rice told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show.
"There's not enough education. It's being advertised but there just doesn't seem to be enough education."
Rice speculates that only 15 to 20 per cent of drivers obey the law.
He said responding to a scene on a double-lane highway is especially dangerous as some drivers refuse to change lanes to accommodate workers.
"The left-hand lane can be open but still the people stay in the right-hand lane," said Rice.
"I try to acknowledge the people that are obeying this law with a head nod or a hand gesture."
Rice said it's less of an issue when dealing with accidents on city streets, as drivers "have no other choice but wait and try to get out around" workers.
He had one especially close call while changing a tire for a customer on an Outer Ring Road offramp leading to Thorburn Road.
The situation, he said, was particularly dangerous because of the nature of the ramp — "You're coming down a grade and you're on a turn."
We're no match for a couple thousand pounds coming at us, we're only bone and tissue.- Bob Rice, Avalon Towing
"We had two tractor trailers coming down abreast and I had to actually get up against the side of the car and I could feel my coat shaking," he said.
"That's pretty scary because I had no place to go."
When responding to an accident, Rice said Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officers typically stay on the scene and assist with traffic.
But when he receives a service call for a tire change or a tow, Rice said he's on his own.
"If possible, move over," he said. Ideally, he and other workers require a four or five foot buffer.
"We're no match for a couple thousand pounds coming at us, we're only bone and tissue."
With files from Cecil Haire