North Dakota: Emergency workers remind drivers to move over on the roadways
Emergency crews in North Dakota and Minnesota are reminding drivers to move over as the roads become icier. They say they see close calls daily.
Like law enforcement and other emergency personnel, Ryan Sherbrooke drives into the thick of it when the roads get nasty.
The Harry's and Northland Towing manager and Midwest Towing owner says the frustrating thing is that people don't always respect the safety of him and his peers.
Ryan Sherbrooke/Harry's, Northland, Midwest Towing Manager: "All the time, usually in an evening of when we're working traffic on the interstates, a handful of times, people just aren't paying attention."
He says it's remarkable tow trucks and their drivers don't get hit more often.
Sherbrooke: "They're more watching what's happening and not the road, in a hurry to get somewhere, and they're not paying attention to us or anybody else out there."
Sgt. Luke Hendrickson with the North Dakota Highway Patrol says he's been hit 5 times during his career with the agency.
He says, despite his flashing lights and ability to hand out tickets, people often aren't paying attention or don't seem to care.
Sgt. Luke Hendrickson/ND Highway Patrol: "It comes down to drivers just paying attention to their surroundings and making sure that they're focusing on driving and making a safe environment when they come by us."
Hendrickson says he gets used to the cars speeding by, but that being hit is something he and other members of law enforcement are always thinking about.
Hendrickson: "When you hear the scratching of the tires going by when they're spinning out of control it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up and you brace for that impact."
Asking people to switch lanes and slow down to keep those who help others safe.
Sherbrooke: "There's nothing scarier than looking back and seeing headlights coming at you sideways because they were going too fast or they were trying to move over in a panic."
Drivers are required by law to move over, or slow down if they can't safely move over, in both Minnesota and North Dakota for emergency vehicles with their lights on. Fines for not doing so can exceed $100 in Minnesota, and about $50 in North Dakota and more if an accident is caused
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