Authorized Emergency Vehicle.
An authorized emergency vehicle is:
Authorized emergency vehicles using signal equipment consisting of a red visible light and a siren requires drivers to yield right-of-way and stop.
Tow Truck Lights.
Emergency tow trucks are required to have an identifying light that must: be red, revolve or flash intermittently, be visible from 360 degrees, and be visible from 500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions. Emergency tow trucks must use the light at the scene of an emergency or accident. A tow truck is not considered an authorized emergency vehicle and may not operate the light on the way to an accident or for any purpose other than at the scene of an emergency or accident.
Emergency Work Zone.
An emergency or work zone is defined as the adjacent lanes of the roadway 200 feet before and after an emergency or work zone vehicle. The following vehicles qualify as emergency or work zone vehicles:
Passing an Emergency or Work Zone.
If the highway has four or more lanes, at least two of which are intended for traffic proceeding in the same direction as the motor vehicle approaching the emergency or work zone, the driver of any motor vehicle must proceed with caution and, if the opportunity exists, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change or moving away from the lane or shoulder occupied by an emergency or work zone vehicle.
On a highway having fewer than four lanes, the driver of a motor vehicle must proceed with caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle, and, if the opportunity exists, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, and following all applicable rules of the road, yield the right-of-way by passing to the left at a safe distance and simultaneously yield the right-of-way to all vehicles traveling in the proper direction on the highway.
If changing lanes or moving away would be unsafe, the driver of a motor vehicle must proceed with due caution and reduce the speed of the vehicle to at least 10 miles per hour (mph) below the posted speed limit.
Tow Truck Lights.
Emergency tow trucks may operate an intermittent or revolving red light when:
Emergency tow trucks at the scene of an accident may use rear-facing blue lights.
Passing an Emergency or Work Zone.
Any driver who is unable to change lanes on a road passing an emergency or work zone and is proceeding with due caution in an adjacent lane is required to reduce the speed of the vehicle to 50 mph or lower when the posted speed limit exceeds 60 mph or more.
The substitute bill modifies when an emergency tow truck may use intermittent or flashing red lights in relation to the scene of an emergency or accident in two ways: (1) the substitute bill expands the use of these lights from the original bill to include when a tow truck is leaving the scene and accelerating to 10 mph below the speed limit; and (2) the substitute bill narrows the use of these lights en route to the scene to times when a tow truck encounters a slowdown in traffic to 35 mph or less due to the emergency or accident.
(In support) This bill would increase safety for tow truck operators working in a dangerous industry. Tow truck drivers do not have enough space on the side of the roadway and cannot block a lane of traffic. Tow truck drivers may end up standing near or in the lane of travel. People are not slowing down and moving over when they see the red light. Drivers pay attention and slow down for blue lights. Other states allow tow trucks to have rear-facing blue lights. Tow truck driving is a dangerous profession. Two tow truck drivers were killed last year in Washington on the side of the highway. Traffic is getting worse and motorists are not paying attention. Red light operation for the approach on the way to a scene increases safety while approaching the scene and alerts other vehicles to the presence of a tow truck. Tow trucks need warning lights leaving the scene as they need time to get up to speed and that distance would vary based on the grade of the road. Setting a maximum speed in an emergency or work zone would increase tow truck driver safety. People should not be going by any emergency scene faster than 50 mph. This bill should clarify the requirement for drivers to slow down and move over.
(Opposed) There is no known evidence blue lights reduce collisions on roadways and Washington State Patrol cars with blue lights have been struck. People may assume the blue light indicates law enforcement presence but would not be able to receive law enforcement services. Tow truck operators have not had training on operating red lights on the way to a scene. Tow trucks are secondary responders to the scene and are called once law enforcement has secured the scene.