CAA Slow Down Move Over is a year-round safety awareness initiative that reminds drivers to protect first responders working on our highways—tow truck operators, construction crews, paramedics, law enforcement, firefighters, and highway patrol staff.
“Every day, we face real danger helping motorists on Saskatchewan roads,” said CAA tow truck operator Kurt Elmer. “All we want is to do our jobs safely and make it home to our families.”
“Too many close calls happen when drivers aren’t paying attention,” added CAA tow truck operator Stephen Romans. “When you see us on the roadside, it’s a matter of life and death—slow down and move over.”
It’s the law in Saskatchewan to slow to 60 km/h when passing first responders on highways. Learn more in SGI’s Professional Driver’s Handbook.
When it’s safe, slow down and move over—because everyone deserves to get home safely.
Read Slow Down Move Over: Ensuring Road Safety for Everyone to learn more.
Safety Cloud © HAAS Alert System
To enhance the safety of roadside assistance for tow truck operators, CAA Saskatchewan has implemented the Safety Cloud© HAAS Alert system for the CAA Regina Fleet. The HAAS Alert system will send CAA-specific warnings to popular traffic and navigation apps. Through the Telematics system installed on the trucks, when the beacons are activated, Safety Cloud© by HAAS Alert will send warning messages of “CAA Saskatchewan On Scene Slow Down and Move Over” to alerting platforms that include the world’s largest navigation apps including Waze, and vehicles covered by the Stellantis Group OEM (Dodge, Jeep, RAM, Chrysler, and Alfa Romeo). The alerts are specific to CAA Member rescue calls but will be visible to anyone who uses the alerting platforms.
Background
- Across Canada, there are more than 7,500 tow truck operators employed by or contracted to provincial CAA clubs. Each receives ongoing training, plus equipment like reflective pylons and high-visibility clothing.
- In March 2025, a semi struck a tow truck on Highway #1 near Whitewood. There were no injuries to the tow truck operator.
- In February 2025, a working tow truck operator was in a severe motor vehicle accident with a semi on Highway #39 near Midale. Tragically, the operator passed away due to his injuries.
- In January 2025, a car slammed into a tow truck on Highway #4. The operator was not injured.
- In March 2024, while Borden Fire and Rescue responded to a call of an accident involving a vehicle and a deer, an emergency vehicle on scene was hit by a passing vehicle. There were no injuries.
- In 2023, the White City Fire and Rescue responded to a call of an accident on Highway #1. While there, an emergency vehicle on scene, with a firefighter inside, was struck by another motorist. The firefighter was injured as a result.
- In January 2021, a tow truck operator was involved in a serious collision while working on a highway near North Battleford, Saskatchewan.
- Tragically, a tow truck operator near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, was struck and killed in 2017 while working during a blizzard.
- CAA Saskatchewan worked with key safety stakeholders to lobby the Government of Saskatchewan for new legislation allowing tow trucks to display blue lights in addition to amber lights when assisting motorists. In April 2017, Saskatchewan became the first province to permit this additional safety precaution.
- While the exact number of collisions involving tow trucks is unknown, data from CAA National indicates that each year in North America, dozens of tow operators are killed while doing their jobs. Each one of these deaths is entirely preventable: Slow Down Move Over.