The Problem / Why This Matters

Every day, tow truck operators risk their lives working on the sides of fast-moving roads, highways, and accident scenes. The safety tools we currently rely on — orange (amber) lights, cones, warning beacons — aren’t cutting it. Motorists drive too fast, push into shoulders, don’t slow down, and often don’t respect amber lights. That leaves us completely exposed.

Tragedy struck again recently: a tow driver was killed early Saturday morning (10/04/25) while recovering a stranded car just outside DC (on the Baltimore–Washington Parkway). This is proof: when you’re working stopped on the side of the road, mere lights and signs are not enough protection.

We’re not asking to run red and blue while driving on the highway — only while stopped on scene, to warn drivers “Hey, it’s an emergency / hazard, back off,” and then turn them off once moving.

DC drivers speed, cut corners, use shoulders, and don’t care about amber warnings. We work on all roads — highways, fast arterials, crash scenes — so we need the legal ability to use red & blue in those moments when every second and every inch of visibility can mean life or death.

 

Supporting Facts & Statistics

• A 2024 AAA Foundation study found 123 roadside assistance providers (tow drivers, emergency roadside techs, etc.) were struck and killed while working between 2015 and 2021 — far more than are recorded in typical crash databases.
• Most of those fatal crashes occurred on highways or roads with speed limits of 55 mph or more.
• The towing / roadside assistance industry has one of the highest fatality rates of all private industries. In some reports, the fatality risk for towing is ~15× higher than other industries.
• Some sources estimate ~60 tow operators killed per year nationwide working roadsides.
• One stat: “Did you know a tow truck driver is killed every six days?” is often repeated in industry discussion — though actual confirmed numbers vary.
• Between 2011 and 2016, 191 towing workers died — that’s an average of about 32 deaths/year.

These numbers don’t even fully capture every death, since many crash reports don’t record that a fatality victim was a roadside worker.

 

What We Are Asking For

1. Legislative change in DC to allow tow trucks stopped on-scene — assisting stranded vehicles, accident recovery, etc. — to use red & blue lights, under strict conditions:

 

• Only while stationary and active on-scene.
• Lights must be turned off when the truck starts moving again.
• Use must be limited to preventing collisions and protecting workers — not for general roadway use.

      2.   Rules / oversight to prevent abuse:

• Penalties for misuse.
• Clear guidelines for when/where they can be used (e.g. when working on shoulders, highways, emergency zones).
• Training for operators and enforcement guidance.

        3. Pilot implementation on high‑risk roads (interstates, major arterials) to prove effectiveness.

       4. Public awareness campaign simultaneously: drivers must also be educated to slow down and move over, especially in DC, where drivers often don’t heed amber lights, use shoulders, or respect protective measures.

 

Why This Will Improve Safety (Not Just for Tow Drivers, But Every Motorist)

• Red & blue lights carry a universal “emergency / hazard” signal. They demand more attention and immediate caution from drivers, more than amber or warning beacons do.
• They create clearer warning to approaching vehicles that something serious is happening ahead — not just a disabled car.
• Because they are more visible and understood, they can force drivers to slow, change lanes, or be extra cautious — reducing the chance someone crashes into the work zone.
• When lives are at stake, we need stronger tools — not just goodwill and hope.

 

States / Examples Where Tow Trucks Can Use Red / Blue or Enhanced Lights (or Expanded lighting laws)

• Washington State — In 2023, a bill (Senate Bill 5023) was passed that lets tow‑truck operators use rear-facing blue flashers at accident/roadside scenes in addition to red ones.
• Kansas — Wreckers/tow trucks are allowed to use authorized emergency lights (which can include red/blue) when stationary and providing towing service at scene or roadside recovery.
• Illinois — Illinois law allows tow / highway assistance vehicles to light up red (and permitted lighting) when parked or stationary at the scene of accidents or while performing assistance.

 

Call to Action

By signing this petition, you demand that:

• DC Council, DDOT, and MPD pass legal changes allowing tow operators to run red & blue lights only while stopped on-scene under clear rules.
• Maryland and nearby jurisdictions adopt similar measures, especially near DC highways.
• Legislative leaders and transportation agencies take this seriously — we need protection now.

 

 

We’re not asking for a free pass to abuse powers. We’re demanding life-saving tools to protect ourselves and the public.

 

If you support this, please sign and share this petition. If you’re a tow operator, post a pic or video from the roadside (with your lights) and tell your story. Get other tow companies, first responders, media, and families of fallen drivers to back it.