LOUISVILLE, Ky. — "Amber lights flashing on tow trucks mean slow down, and move over," Irvin Johns, president of Suburban Towing said.
Johns is calling for safer roads after a hit and run on Saturday night left a tow truck driver in the hospital.
"All we want to do is go do our job, do it well and get home to our families," Johns said, who has been serving as president for 56 years.
Around 10:20 p.m., LMPD said a car hit a tow truck driver as he was getting out for a job.
Authorities said the suspect continued driving eastbound down I-64.
"We're there on the side of the highway in the night, 11:30 or 12 o'clock at night, and it's a tough job," Johns said.
Workers in the tow trucking industry said despite a "Slow down, move over" law expanding this summer, drivers need to be more aware.
"You get people who are very courteous, people who move over when they see your lights flashing," Johns said. "And you get other people that are so interested in getting home or eating a French fry or something that they don't pay attention."
In July, an updated version of Kentucky's "Move over" law went into effect. It expands protections to any drivers stuck on the side of the road with emergency flashers on.
The law requires oncoming drivers in the right-most lane to change lanes, or at least slow down if there's not room. Violators can be fined up to $500 and jailed for up to 30 days.
Johns said their job is to help motorists off the road, and "nobody wants to be on the side of the road."
According to AAA, the number of roadside assistance providers struck and killed is four times as much as what typically gets reported.
Chris Skaggs has been a Suburban Towing driver for 2 years.
"Last night, I got so many phone calls checking in on me, making sure I wasn't hit, because I work night shift," Skaggs said.
He calls it the "Towhood Brotherhood," a nationwide family that looks out for one another. He said they talk through and app and track each other's locations incase someone needs backup.
He says he's had the brotherhood throughout his entire 16-year career.
After Saturday's tragedy, he said they showed out for him. "They called me all through the night," he said.
Skaggs said truck driving is one of the most dangerous jobs in the country, and hopes it can soon become safer.
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