It is a phone call every family dreads.
And in North America it is a call that comes every six days.
That is why a group, including Shon Crumley, co-organizer of the event, got together to start an annual Slow Down and Move Over Awareness Rally.
Crumley notes that in North American, a tow truck operator is killed every six days.
The rally was started after the tragic death of Courtney Schaefer in Esterhazy last March.
“Everywhere we go we constantly hear that people don’t know that there’s a law to slow down to 60 km/h so after the incident last year with Courtney Schaefer in Esterhazy tragically losing his life we just said you know what? Instead of waiting for the government to do something we’re going to do something for ourselves,” noted Crumley.
“The first responders, as well as the tow guys, they’re always out there and they’re getting hit so it was a way for us to get some attention and get the word out and help get the word out in a peaceful way and a professional way.”
While Schaefer was a tow truck driver, Crumley notes the rally is geared towards all roadside workers, and says seeing fire, ambulance, and police take part, like they did in Humboldt on March 7 is really nice, because it can open new doors.
“It opens that relationship up and gets each other talking to each other on a friendly level without the stress of being at an accident scene or anything like that and having to worry about traffic flying by.”
Crumley notes the hope is by having the rally they will be able to get the word out, and says he hopes people will understand the importance and value of the jobs they are doing.
“It’s a couple extra seconds for you to slow down when we’re out there but in the long run it makes a big difference for us too because we have families to go home to as well,” he says.
“When you’re approaching us, if it was your family would you slow down? Would you drive any differently?”
While the rally is currently just a Saskatchewan wide event, Crumley notes he hopes he is able to help extend this rally nationwide, noting he hopes eventually they can get the first week of March recognized as National Slow Down Awareness Week.
“It’s a horrible feeling when you hear the sound of tires skidding uncontrollably across icy highways or dry pavement even. And the first thing that goes through your mind is am I going to live through this?”
