ATLANTA — After the deaths of at least 45 first responders who were struck by vehicles while on the job in 2023, the call for motorists to obey “move over” laws is getting louder.
A total of 20 tow truck drivers were killed last year. Three of them died on metro Atlanta highways. The “move over” law is intended to protect first responders, including tow truck drivers, by instructing passing motorists to slow down and provide a buffer of one lane while responders are working along a highway.
Jae Jarrett of New Image Towing says every day brings risks.
“There’s been some close calls,” said Jarrett. “You can’t do anything about it. Some people are looking at the phone, looking down. They look up and now they see you.”
11Alive watched as Jarrett helped with a multi-vehicle wreck at I-75 and I-285 in Clayton County. As he and others worked to clear the roadway, some tow truck drivers waved franticly at passing traffic, begging motorists to slow down and move over. Despite the presence of police and flashing lights, some motorists ignore the pleas.
The director of New Image Towing said while none of his drivers were injured, two of his vehicles were struck by passing motorists in 2023.
“We have cones set up, we have emergency signs saying move over,” said Torrian Williams. “I guess a lady wasn’t paying attention. She went straight through the cones.”
While Jarrett cleared a vehicle from a four lane highway in Forest Park, more than half of the passing cars moved over a lane as the law requires.
Many do not.
“You got people fiddling around with their phones,” said Jarrett. “You never know what’s going to happen. You’re always at risk.”
So tow truck drivers watch out for each other, sometimes pleading with passing motorists in an effort to help everyone get home alive.