Employees across multiple industries have job roles that may require them to work alongside the highway, including law enforcement officers, first responders, firefighters, utility workers and tow truck drivers. While these employees can provide much-needed assistance to people in emergency situations, engaging in roadside tasks can pose a number of hazards. Such hazards can have significant ramifications for roadside workers, motorists and pedestrians alike.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that thousands of accidents involving roadside operations happen annually. Focusing solely on the towing sector, the American Automobile Association estimates that 60 tow truck drivers are killed on the job every year. Considering these findings, it’s imperative that organizations with employees who work alongside the highway implement adequate safety precautions to protect both their staff and the public. This article outlines common roadside hazards and offers related mitigation strategies.
Common Roadside Hazards
Roadside operations carry serious safety hazards. Some of the most common include the following:
Crashes and collisions — Police cars, ambulances, fire engines, tow trucks and other commercial vehicles parked alongside the highway are especially vulnerable to being struck by reckless or distracted motorists, potentially resulting in severe injuries or fatalities. These risks are compounded in the evening and early morning hours when a lack of sunlight limits road visibility. Roadside workers could also get hurt in crashes or collisions while exiting or reentering their vehicles. Without proper signaling or other visual cues, these employees may even harm nearby motorists and pedestrians while pulling off or getting back on the highway.
Equipment-related incidents — Some roadside employees, namely tow truck drivers and utility workers, leverage a variety of heavy machinery and equipment to conduct their operations. Although useful, this equipment can lead to substantial struck-by and caught-in or -between hazards. For example, a tow truck driver—or the motorist they are assisting—could get injured by a broken recovery cable or snatch block in the process of lifting or transporting a vehicle.
Adverse weather — Certain types of inclement weather (e.g., heavy rain, snow, ice and hail) can create slick or slippery surfaces and diminish drivers’ view of the road. This can endanger roadside workers in several ways, making them increasingly susceptible to crashes and collisions and limiting their ability to complete their work safely. For instance, a first responder could slip and fall on an ice patch while tending to a person in need alongside the highway.
Roadside violence — Various roadside scenarios, particularly those involving arrests or vehicle repossession, can prompt hostile confrontations and, in severe cases, violence. Specifically, individuals who are upset about their circumstances may take their frustrations out on roadside workers and attempt to harm them, resulting in a range of possible injuries and physical and emotional trauma.
When their employees are involved in roadside accidents, organizations may face major consequences. In addition to the tragic loss of life that these incidents can cause, organizations could encounter costly workers’ compensation claims from injured employees, diminished staff morale and productivity, large-scale lawsuits from impacted motorists and pedestrians (or their bereaved loved ones), lasting reputational damage, and compounded insurance expenses. As such, it’s crucial for organizations to take roadside hazards seriously and utilize adequate mitigation measures.
Mitigation Strategies
There are several safety precautions organizations can leverage to minimize roadside hazards and prevent potentially devastating incidents. Here are some best practices to consider:
Provide proper personal protective equipment (PPE). Organizations should supply roadside workers with sufficient PPE for their particular tasks. At a minimum, these workers need high-visibility vests or jackets. Depending on the nature of their operations, they may also need hard hats with reflective stickers, safety glasses, slip-resistant boots and hearing protection (i.e., earplugs or earmuffs).
Conduct routine inspections and maintenance. It’s essential for vehicles and equipment utilized in roadside operations to be inspected before and after each use and kept on a regular repair and maintenance schedule. Roadside workers should be prohibited from operating broken, damaged or otherwise defective vehicles and equipment.
Establish safe driving policies. Organizations should adopt multiple policies centered around safe driving to better protect their roadside workers. These policies should discourage distractions behind the wheel (e.g., cellphone use, eating or adjusting the radio), promote defensive driving techniques, prohibit impaired driving and require compliance with all applicable traffic laws (e.g., seat belt use and speed limits). Such policies should also highlight additional precautions to take amid adverse weather conditions, including increasing following distance and reducing speed.
Educate employees. Roadside workers should receive regular awareness training on common occupational hazards and related safety precautions. In addition to addressing PPE requirements and proper equipment operation and driving standards, this training should outline clear signaling and communication strategies for pulling off and getting back on the highway, adequate parking measures, and de-escalation techniques for handling hostile or violent individuals.
Ensure roadside visibility. Apart from educating their employees, organizations should equip their commercial fleets with the resources needed to ensure maximum visibility while parked alongside the highway. This includes reflective vehicle tape and mounted hazard lighting that can be programmed to display alternating flash patterns at appropriate brightness levels. All vehicles should also contain roadside safety kits stocked with additional visibility materials (e.g., traffic cones and reflective pavement markers) and emergency items.
Maintain compliance. It’s worth noting that organizations with roadside workers could be subject to different federal and state commercial driving regulations. In particular, organizations may need to comply with certain licensing and hours-of-service requirements from the Department of Transportation. They may also need to meet OSHA’s incident reporting, equipment operator, PPE and load securement standards. Organizations can work with legal counsel to determine their compliance needs.
Conclusion
Roadside employees can make all the difference in helping people navigate traffic accidents, vehicle troubles and other emergencies. Even so, working alongside the highway is a dangerous job that can lead to serious injuries and fatalities, resulting in lasting consequences for affected employees and their organizations. By understanding common roadside hazards and utilizing effective mitigation measures, organizations can properly safeguard their employees and the public, minimize related accidents, and ensure smooth operations.
Contact us today for more risk management tips.
This Risk Insights is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel or an insurance professional for appropriate advice. © 2025 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.