Responding to help those stranded on the side of the road is dangerous, and tow truck operators put their lives on the line every day, along with emergency personnel.

A tow truck rally tonight (Mar 7th) is being held nationwide to draw some attention to those dangers and remind motorists about the slowdown, move over laws that are in place when approaching emergency vehicles or tow truck operators at work.

It falls on the 1 year anniversary of the death of Courtney Schaefer in Saskatchewan, a young operator who lost his life while responding to a 4 vehicle crash in a blizzard.

Lacombe's Popow’s Auto Wrecking and Towing will participate in tonight's rally; Manager of Towing Operations Wayne Popow says close calls happen far too often.

“We all want to go home to our families and our loved ones at home, our one truck got hit again this year, beginning of the winter anyway got hit, everybody was ok, but still the damages are done.  I know up around Edmonton there, I know one company that has had 5 of their trucks hit in the last 3 years and it’s all over the place”.

The Towing and Recovery Association of Alberta is working to promote tow truck rallies across the province to build awareness.

Popow says they’ll simply be working to remind motorists how to respond when coming up on an emergency situation or two truck at work according to Alberta law.

“For about 10 years now for emergency vehicles and tow trucks on the side of the highway with flashing lights on to slow down to 60 km/h or move over to an adjacent lane when it is safe to do so”.

Locally you're likely to see a tow truck and emergency responder presence at Highway 2 and 2A, Highway 11A and the Bear Hills truck stop tonight between 7 and 8 pm.