VIDEO: Slow Down and Move Over

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Today marks the one year anniversary of an Alabama tow truck driver, John Hubbard, losing his life after being struck by a vehicle while on the job.

Many tow companies made the trip to Tuscaloosa where a procession was held in honor of Hubbard.

They also want to use this as an opportunity to express the laws that are in place for drivers who pass tow trucks that are on the job.

It’s called slow down, and move over, and for drivers passing an emergency vehicle it’s not a courtesy or a phrase.

It’s an actual law.

“We stress it,” said owner of Champions Towing and Recovery, Donald Barksdale. “You know, we got it on the back glasses of our trucks: ‘slow down and move over.’ Just when you see flashing lights, just slow down.”

Like Police and EMTs, tow drivers are considered first responders, and they need space to do their job.

“Give these guys a little bit of room because as they’re trying to watch their own backs, they’re trying to protect the customer as well,” said Barksdale.

For Barksdale, his business has seen first hand people who don’t seem to care for tow driver safety.

“Probably the beginning of this year, we had a truck that got sideswiped on Highway 50, took the door completely off the truck,” said Barksdale.

Fortunately, that driver was ok, but a procession in Tuscaloosa Sunday afternoon was held for a driver who wasn’t as lucky.

“The driver was out doing a tire change, and apparently a car came through there and struck him,” said Barksdale.

Over 100 wreckers attended the procession, and it showed Barksdale the close community of the job.

“That was really unbelievable. We got to meet some good people, good other tow truck drivers out there who are just stressing the same thing: slow down and move over.”