TravelCenters of America has implemented a significant change that impacts drivers who rely on roadside assistance during breakdowns. After a series of close calls and a tragic incident involving one of their own technicians, the company has officially stopped sending repair crews to the shoulder of active highways.
The shift comes as more motorists fail to move over or slow down for vehicles working on the side of the road. Truck drivers see this every day. Cars drift toward the shoulder while their drivers stare at screens or miss the flashing lights completely. That growing danger is exactly what pushed TA to reevaluate how it handles emergency repairs.
Earlier this month, TA announced that it would pause roadside assistance “to ensure our team members have the right tools, training, and processes in place to safely assist professional drivers on the road.” During that pause, the company continued offering help in places like lots, rest areas, and other safe pull-off locations.
The decision became permanent after a TA technician was struck and killed on Interstate 80 in Frelinghuysen Township, New Jersey, while helping a trucker. A passing commercial vehicle hit the technician on the shoulder during the repair call.
Following a full review, TA confirmed it will no longer send crews to the shoulder of highways or interstates. Repairs will only be handled in places where traffic is not speeding past within feet of workers.
“TA will continue to offer emergency repair assistance in safer, controlled environments, including truck stops, rest areas, and parking lots,” the company said. “By stopping work in high-speed and high-traffic environments, we are continuing to prioritize what matters most – the safety of our team members and our customers.”
In emails to customers, TA also pointed to distracted driving as a major factor in the change. The company emphasized that removing technicians from active traffic lanes protects both the people doing the repairs and the professional drivers who need help.
Statistics back up the concern. A study cited in the announcement reported an average of 566 deaths and more than 14,000 injuries every year in incidents involving disabled vehicles on the roadside. States across the country have been updating move-over laws in response to these ongoing dangers.
Some states only require motorists to move over for emergency vehicles, which includes TA’s roadside crews. Other states are now expanding those laws to cover any vehicle on the shoulder. This year, California, Kansas, New Hampshire, and West Virginia all strengthened their move-over requirements. Bills are also moving forward in Massachusetts, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
For truck drivers, the end of highway-shoulder repairs means planning, watching for mechanical warning signs earlier, and aiming for safer places to pull off whenever possible. The change also serves as another reminder of how dangerous the roadside has become, especially for anyone working inches away from high-speed traffic.
Source: Land Line Media
