In North America as of 2016, one tow-truck driver is likely to be killed while on the job every six days.
The use of blue flashing lights recently came on stream in Saskatchewan making it the only province which has made this switch to indicate to drivers to slow down as roadside responders are helping someone.
John Buhnai with Action Towing is spearheading an event in the Border City on Wednesday August 18, to raise awareness and funds for both the LLoydminster Rescue Squad and Roadside Responders of Saskatchewan.
“In Saskatchewan, tow trucks [can legally] run blue lights when we are working on the side of a road, pulling somebody out of a ditch or we are standing at a rolled over vehicle or we are hooking up to a truck to tow it. We are allowed to run our blue lights when we are actually working on the side of the highway.”
Buhnai says the switch from yellow lights to blue was felt to be a good move as there were so many other vehicles like large trucks using yellow lights. The only vehicles with blue lights now are the police, snow ploughs and tow trucks.
The Blue Lights and Burgers event which will be at the Gold Horse Casino parking lot on Wednesday from 6 p.m. has been moving around Saskatchewan with a Memorial Float which was built by Action Towing in Lloydminster.
“We built it a couple winters ago, and it is a coffin sitting on top of a rack that has signage all around it talking about slowing down and moving over. So this coffin has been going from town to town all summer long.”
Buhnai says every Wednesday night the Memorial Float has been in a different town for a Blue Lights and Burgers event.
Buhnai says Lloydminster Rescue Squad will be out to flip the burgers and residents can pitch in by donation. They also, have a door prize valued at $650 for a family stay at Fantasyland Hotel, West Edmonton Mall.