United Conservative Transportation Critic Wayne Drysdale introduced bill 215, the Traffic Safety (Tow Trucks) Amendment Act, 2017 yesterday (Dec.4th), which would allow tow trucks in the province to install white and blue warning lights to increase their visibility and distinguish them from other emergency vehicles.

The bill comes after Saskatchewan passed similar legislation last spring, following the death of a tow truck operator who was killed on the job in a roadside collision.

Popow’s Auto Wrecking and Towing have been in business since 1945, and Manager Wayne Popow says it's a hazard of the job he deals with daily.

“We’ve had our fair share of trucks hit, some more severe than others, on the side of the highway in bad weather conditions. Any tow truck driver that’s worked the highway, if they don’t have a close call encounter they haven’t been driving long enough.”

Popow says tow trucks having their own colours is important.

“People have become desensitized to just your normal yellow, or amber lights, cause anybody can go get an amber flashlight and put it on their roof. You look at the plough trucks around Alberta, all the construction vehicles around Alberta they all have flashing amber lights, so it is kind of nice to differentiate them.

Research shows that the use of more than one colour increases visibility, and white and blue have strong vibrancy in bad weather.

The bill has support from the Alberta Motor Association.