Tow truck drivers in Iowa hope to shine a light on a proposed bill

A bill moving through the Iowa Senate would make it illegal for civilian tow trucks to use red and blue lights. Tow truck drivers say this could be dangerous.

[@douglasneidert9873]

Should never be a law passed that puts workers on a highway at risk for injury or death

[@roadsidecarcare]

Definitely believe he's right because using amber flashing yellow so many people don't care, as a owner of my roadside I use white n yellow with amber blue in my state but police aren't as bad as other states plus, it's true you go to help someone to go home as well as you want to make it home yourself. So whatever we need to do should be allowed.

[@lueyR]

Hes not worried about saftey. He just wants police lights haha

[@tk000]

Leave it to Iowa to have such a stupid dilemma. Red/blue are for emergency vehicles only, amber for tow trucks - the end. Glad to see substitute bill HF 654 was passed and signed into law. Common sense prevails.

[@PATRIOT389]

I use green/amber on my trucks. Blue and red are used for emergency vehicles not road side service vehicles. Green is highly visible in fog, snow and rain.

[@jayasmrmore3687]

Okay, so if a person is trapped in a crushed vehicle you want to take your time getting there? Tow trucks still have a huge role sometimes

[@PATRIOT389]

@@jayasmrmore3687 tow trucks are not emergancy vehicles in the state im in. If theres a crash a tow truck is dispatched to area right away incase they are needed. They can not run stop lights/signs or use red/blue lights and siren.

[@jesseray6340]

@@PATRIOT389 I would highly disagree in some states they can and they can have red and Blues and siren

[@brayden9060]

@@jayasmrmore3687 Lmao if someone is trapped in a crushed car a tow truck being there or not won't help anything. If a person is trapped the fire department has tools to get them out.

[@johnarat9618]

​@brayden9060 Some states like Missouri permit red and blue lights to be used for tow trucks, so they can bypass traffic and get the road cleared. The longer the toad remains blocked, the higher the chances for a secondary accident further back. Plus, they may be able to help the fire department with freeing someone from a wrecked car.

[@DJNate2K]

In New York State We Have Amber & Blue lights, but the Blue Lights can only be Rear Facing Only.

[@Terk131]

Private tow cannot by law use any color but amber. I am not saying they don't run other colors because I have seen it in the 5 boroughs but it's illegal. Just this year NY state passed a law that municipalities running snow plows and/or sand/salt spreaders can run green with the amber.

[@BusTVChan]

Well it said red and blue.. it didn't say red or blue .. or blue or amber.. or red an amber.. so you could still make it so better then amber only

[@dallas75241]

I noticed they didnt show the front. As long as no red or blue shows from the front it shouldnt be a problem

[@412psekustomzllc7]

Nobody respects Amber warning lights. In Pennsylvania the only color lights motorists respect(most of the time) are Red/Blues! We lose more tow operators/construction workers annually on the job than any other profession. Unfortunately for Pennsylvania companies the government is so worried that civilians will mistaken you for Law Enforcement that they do not care if you have the warning equipment that best safeguards your life. We all deserve to get home safe after our shift. That is how the emergency warning light laws should be made!

[@capitolemiproducer]

In California Red is strictly for Authorized emergency vehicles and blue is only for Law enforcement

[@blainenodes8182]

Many light use to wash-out in:🌞,🌧️,❄️,l.e.d.in 2000 revolutionized warning lites, headlights,street lights,bike lights, rotobeams are brightest available in 2023

[@SupahBigg577]

Hell, let 'em have red and green lights!

[@Packinheat1175]

Everyone gets used to red/blue when they start allowing them on everything too. Sorry amber or amber/red only.

[@barryy2k94]

Theres no respect for amber and red. At least have them face to the rear of the truck

[@Packinheat1175]

@@barryy2k94 nobody slows for red & blue either and once you start allowing red & blue on everything it will be no different than amber is now.

[@jayasmrmore3687]

@@Packinheat1175 who said red and blue on everything

[@Packinheat1175]

@@jayasmrmore3687 I’m saying if they start allowing red/blue on too many vehicles people become desensitized to that colour now. Specifically blue lights depending where you live - police vehicles, fire apparatus, ambulances, snow plows, tow trucks all have red/blue or amber/blue which looks too close to red/blue to people not paying attention.

[@jayasmrmore3687]

@@Packinheat1175 it’s not going to be on too many vehicles just one extra.

[@lester-27c]

red and blue is fore fire and ems. most drivers know yellow means to slow. how a bout more oolice agencys crack down on drivers. i think amber and white are a great tow comination

[@werewolflover8636]

Former police, firefighter and EMA and I must agree! Yellow lights are useless!

[@_rdcn3134]

Totally agree take it from me been on ground zero towing it's dangerous what we do lost some colleagues...

[@vicpetrishak7705]

Sometimes these operators use way , way to bright of lights blinding the upcoming traffic ! Even some factory automotive light brightness should be outlawed . People can see cop car lights one mile away , what do you think when you are 300 feet away does to your vision . 5/9 /23

[@michaelf8500]

Yup. Far more collisions now than when they just used a little amber rotator on the roof

[@BatGS]

Greetings: I support the bill. Yes I am in and familiar with other state laws in the towing business. The designation of such comours is necessary to do just that ..designate the type of vehicle where such regulation of designation is justified. Not having such can confuse drivers, operators and the variout. In most states drivers are "numb" because operators drive with lughts on whilst loaded or not loaded. This creates confusion on roadways with the public drivers. Some states require lights whilst loaded, loaded on deck or on the ground. Others only whilst loading or unloading. Most states have permits for such operation of lighting and fines for abusing the privilege which I also endorse. Many of the 'new breed' operators (sissys) like the light show which has caused confusion, laws, injuries and deaths from such abuse of operating flashing lights (Sissy lights) inappropriately. Rarely do I endorse such action of prompt, strict enforcement and heavy fines and penalties. However this is a growing problem of immature operators new in a fiekd of dangerous, responsibility and respect of fellow tradesman. Argue my point but think back of a "Move over" or "Slow down" law. If the law was taught and strictly enforced as is operating a flashing light law and both abided properly then we would not have this situation. Myself, in the towing business and repair business, I design circuits and wire so that such Sissy lights compky with this State's regulation if "Only whilst loading or unloading". This of requests from state officials and as convenience of owners and operators. Such wiring eliminates forgetting to switch off and automatically switches on when needed whilst avoiding confusion if dtivers, fines and penalties. It also adds protection to light circuits, carrier wiring and host vehicle electrical / electronics. Thx 4 the read and share

[@serenarenfro2668]

I'm still trying to figure out if tow trucks are allowed to have lights and sirens, Are they really allowed to have lights and sirens?

[@towtruckaj]

yes and no.

[@michaelf8500]

Every state I’ve ever lived in has amber lights only for tow trucks. To my knowledge, tow truckers aren’t getting crashed into all the time just using amber…

[@SupahBigg577]

Green, amber and white are HIGHLY effective! Some tow trucks here in Florida have those three colors. People definitely move over when they see a tow truck with flashing greens approaching from behind.

[@chpman2013]

Would be just if it's a towing company affiliated with a law enforcement agency, but a private towing company? I'm not so sure. Personally, I can see flashing amber lights from a distance just fine and I pay heed accordingly (moving over a lane or slowing down), just as I would with first responder vehicles.

[@jamesevans938]

In Missouri tow trucks are allowed to run red and blue trucks as well as a siren however they can use the lights on the side of the road unless they have been requested to expedite by law enforcement or by the fire department and in that’s the only time they can use the lights and sirens while responding

[@SavageCam_YT]

Well in my State Amber/White and Amber is only allowed

[@guwopjames3397]

We need it bad in Florida

[@Shark_King325]

There is no reason a tow truck needs red and blue warning lights they are not emergency vehicles they are roadside assistance vehicles. Maybe amber and blue or amber and red but not red and blue. In NY tow trucks are only allowed to use amber and white but some companies equip a few blue lights on the REAR ONLY for better visibility since blue is a higher visible color.

[@jayasmrmore3687]

So if you are in a flipped over car, or maybe the car is hanging by a cable from falling off a cliff, you want them to not get traffic priority?

[@Shark_King325]

@@jayasmrmore3687 I would and that’s why state police, county police and county sheriffs offices have their own towing equipment same with DOT. There is no reason a private tow trucker needs red and blue lights.

[@jayasmrmore3687]

@@Shark_King325 I agree. I only meant they should be allowed to use the lights in the event of like an accident or car fire or something. Not just if they tow some car to a shop.

[@hoho9334]

This needs to happen like now

[@peterburton3147]

Yes, red/blue lights are more visible. But they should be used for ambulance/fire/police only. Only in the US are a few tow trucks using red/blue. Amber is by far the most effective colour day and night, as proven by recent tests. So I agree, amber only for two trucks.

[@woody4u247]

Actually, you're incorrect. Amber lighting is NOT the most effective warning color. Effectiveness is the culmination of a list of constantly changing factors. The human eye/cones & brain reacts to different light wavelengths differently on multiple levels with vastly different results. Ambient lighting, weather, age of the viewer, distance, lighting optics & lumen output, physical dimensional size of the source and many others. Different colors in the spectrum as well as the Kelvin temperature of the light effects. The general opinion of amber/ yellow warning lights was chosen many decades ago & had no factual basis with human data. Modern technology & medical technology has shown how the cones in the eye & brain reacts to different colors, rate of flashing, physical light source size, distance & atmospheric interference contrasting background changes it. But amber is not the most effective in reality.

[@NaKJake]

* Color *

[@PrenticeBoy1688]

@@NaKJake No.

[@jamesevans938]

@@NaKJake colour is British English (otherwise known as the correct English😂) Color is American English

[@brandonnewman98]

It should be allowed when going on a Police call, something else that should be allowed is tow trucks running Code 3 with sirens to get to an accident if its a Police call.. we are considered emergency vehicles as well so itd make sense to me

[@zacharybogert8558]

LMAO