by Pat Rediger
Photos by Jackie Richards, Big Hill Towing, Cochrane, Alberta
An event designed to draw as much attention as possible demonstrates the vulnerability of roadside workers.
IF YOU WERE DRIVING IN CALGARY on March 6, you may have thought the end of the world was taking place. Flashing amber, red, and blue lights lit the sky on Deerfoot Trail as the streets were filled with tow trucks, fire engines, ambulances, and police vehicles. No, the world wasn’t coming to an end, but it did mark an important safety message for the motoring public to slow down and move over when they see emergency vehicles on the road.
Jeff Hribnak, operations manager for Southern Alberta at City Wide Towing, was one of the key organizers of the event and said it was designed to make people more aware of the potential hazards while emergency personnel are conducting their work on busy streets and highways.
May-June 2025
“We want to grab as much attention as possible to educate people and raise awareness,” he said. “It’s all about showing the public how vulnerable roadside workers are.
The movement traces its origins back to 2017, following the tragic death of a Saskatchewan tow operator who was struck and killed while assisting a motorist on the roadside. This incident sparked a growing campaign across Alberta and the rest of Canada to improve roadside safety awareness.
Ever since that happened, it’s been a movement across Alberta,” said Hribnak. “We started it in Calgary after that incident to pay respects and try to educate motorists to slow down and move over when they’re around tow trucks, police, EMS, or any roadside emergency workers. We’ve been doing it every year since.”
The event’s logistics required careful planning and coordination with multiple agencies. “Because we have the contract with the City Police in Calgary, we self-organize it,” Hribnak explained. “I work with the Calgary Police Service to provide front and rear escorts, and we have Calgary Fire, EMS, and highway maintenance vehicles involved as well.”
The procession began staging at 6:00 p.m. along Township Road 240 at 84 Street SE. By 6:45 p.m., Calgary Police led the convoy to Deerfoot Trail, where vehicles positioned themselves along both northbound and southbound lanes for maximum visibility. For one hour, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., the flashing lights of 79 emergency and support vehicles illuminated the roadway, creating what Hribnak described a “stunning spectacle.”
This year’s turnout was one of the largest yet, with the fleet including trucks from multiple tow companies, Calgary Fire and EMS units, police vehicles, and contractors like Volker Stevin, a highway maintenance provider that added plow trucks and support units to the effort.
This year’s turnout was one of the largest and event organizers hope to expand the movement.M/small>
“We had a bit of growth this year,” said Hribnak. “It’s tough because everyone has their own companies to run, but we’re seeing more participation every year.”
By including any organization with roadside workers, Hribnak emphasized that the movement is about protecting everyone who works in potentially hazardous roadside conditions. “Basically, anybody with beacons that’s on the side of the road—towing or maintenance-wise for highways—I invite them,” he said.
"We’d love to see this happen across the whole
province
on the same day,
as a united front.”
While the event involves a convoy of emergency and support vehicles traveling to the staging area, Hribnak is clear that it isn’t a typical parade or procession.
“It’s not like we’re driving all over the city,” he explained. “We stage on Deerfoot and sit there for an hour, usually right at the tail end of rush hour to make sure people notice. We get coverage on Facebook, on the radio—it makes an impact.”
That impact is critical, as Hribnak knows firsthand how dangerous roadside work can be.
“When you’re standing on the shoulder trying to load a car and someone goes by you at 100 km/h, it’ll knock your hat off,” he said. “Depending on how big a guy you are, it’ll move you. You feel that wind.”
The “Slow Down, Move Over” campaign doesn’t just promote awareness — it pushes for lasting changes in driver behaviour. Although Alberta has existing laws requiring motorists to reduce speed and switch lanes when approaching emergency vehicles, public awareness remains a challenge.
“It’s about education,” Hribnak said. “Everybody deserves to go home at the end of the day. We want to make sure people know they need to move over and slow down to give emergency and roadside workers some peace of mind.”
Flashing amber, red, and blue lights offered a stunning spectacle.
Looking ahead, Hribnak plans to expand the movement to other major cities across the province. With support from the Alberta Towing Association, he is working to establish a similar event in Edmonton and branch into our larger communities such as Lethbridge.
“The Alberta Towing Association is getting more active again,” he said. “They’ve asked me to help organize one in Edmonton. Ideally, we’d love to see this happen across the whole province on the same day as a united front.”
The message Hribnak and his team hope to send is simple but necessary:
“When you see blue and amber lights, people need to move over, slow down, and give those working on the side of the road some respect. Everyone deserves to make it home safely at the end of their shift.” 🍁