PETITION: Let Emergency Response Tow Trucks Use Red & White Lights Like TDOT HELP Units

Petition by: Concerned Tennessee Roadside Safety Advocates

To:

Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security

Tennessee State Legislature
Governor Bill Lee

Petition Summary:

We call on the State of Tennessee to authorize emergency-dispatched tow trucks to use red and white emergency lighting—like TDOT HELP units—to reduce response delays and improve the safety of roadside operators facing growing traffic and fatality risks.

As Tennessee’s population and traffic volume continue to rise, so does the danger faced by roadside emergency responders—especially tow truck operators dispatched by law enforcement to crash scenes, disabled vehicles, or active hazards. These men and women risk their lives daily to keep our highways safe and clear.

Currently, TDOT’s HELP (Highway Emergency Local Patrol) units are allowed to operate with red and white emergency lighting, granting them crucial visibility and helping them navigate through congestion to reach incidents quickly. However, emergency-response tow trucks—even those dispatched by police—are restricted to amber and white lights only. This policy gap puts tow operators at a serious disadvantage in both visibility and safety.

In recent years, Tennessee has seen a tragic rise in tow truck drivers being struck or killed while performing roadside recoveries. One growing issue is that amber lights no longer stand out. With the surge in construction projects, utility maintenance, and commercial work zones across the state, amber lighting has become common and easy to ignore for most drivers.

Motorists have been conditioned to view amber lights as routine rather than urgent, making it harder for tow trucks to command the caution and respect needed when working active crash scenes or emergency recoveries. By contrast, red and white lighting, as used by TDOT HELP units, signals a clear emergency presence—increasing driver compliance and allowing responders to reach scenes faster and safer.

TDOT HELP trucks operate with emergency light privileges because their work is urgent and life-saving. The same is true of emergency tow truck operators—yet they are denied the same tools.

We propose a practical and responsible solution:

Authorize red and white emergency lighting on tow trucks dispatched directly by law enforcement or 911 operators for crash response or hazard recovery.

Require certification or special designation for trucks and operators to prevent misuse.
Maintain amber-only rules for private calls, repossessions, or non-emergency work to ensure the new lights are used only when appropriate.

Why This Matters:

Incorporating red and white lighting for emergency tow trucks:

Increases driver awareness and compliance at roadside scenes

Reduces fatalities by making operators more visible to traffic
Improves ETA performance during peak congestion
Aligns legal recognition with the real risks tow operators face

 What Other States Have Proven:

Other states across the country have already adopted similar emergency lighting allowances for qualified tow truck operators—with proven results:

Texas – Houston’s SafeClear Program

In 2005, Houston launched the SafeClear program, requiring rapid freeway clearance by authorized tow trucks. Within the first year:

Freeway crashes dropped by 10.4%, or nearly 2,000 fewer accidents

Drivers saved $35 million due to reduced delays and fewer secondary collisions
(Source: Rice University / Texas A&M)

National Tow Operator Fatality Statistics

Between 2015 and 2021, the AAA Foundation reported:

334 tow truck driver deaths, with

122 killed by being struck by passing vehicles
(Source: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 2023)

These sobering numbers highlight the urgent need for visibility-enhancing measures like red and white emergency lighting. When drivers see those colors, they respond faster, move over, and show more caution—saving lives.

Call to Action:

If TDOT HELP units are recognized as emergency responders—with the tools to move safely through traffic—then tow trucks doing the same work under police dispatch should be granted the same protection.

We urge Tennessee lawmakers, TDOSHS, and Governor Bill Lee to take immediate action to update outdated policy and protect the lives of those who keep our roads safe and moving.

Would you like me to update the PDF version with this final draft or prep a Change.org format post next?