‘Slow down and move over’ – Spirit Ride recognizes first responders

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Slow down and move over.

That’s what the Spirit Ride and Champion’s Towing and Recovery are pushing.

The Spirit Ride is America’s Traveling Memorial Day for first responders.

The Ride’s mission promotes public awareness of the Move Over Laws and honors first responders who have been killed on roadsides.

The Sprit Ride bus was parked at Champions Towing, where a ceremony took place.

Locals, law enforcement, firefighters and tow truck drivers all came out for the event.

Champions Towing says the Spirit Ride means a lot to them.

“It’s aggravating because when you’re on the side of the road, especially a one man operation, that one man, his responsibility is to get that car on his truck, get it strapped down, get it chained down, and if he’s having to keep looking behind him to make sure everybody is getting over, you know, it takes him that much longer,” Champion’s Towning owner Donald Barksdale Jr. added.

A little over a year ago, a Champions driver’s tow truck was swiped on the side of the road after a truck failed to move over.