Page 31 - AAA Magazine – AAA Ohio Auto Club – May 2020

you’re on the side of the road, that person’s not your competition, that’s your family too.”
That support and comradery, along with the desire to help others, is what drives these roadside heroes to keep going.
“To me, this isn’t really a job, it’s a lifestyle,” said Patete. “You learn that you’re not alone. There are other people out there doing the same job in the same situation and you grow as a community.”
“I love what I do,” said Hickman. “This is my career. I bleed driving a tow truck. It’s that knight in shining armor. That smile when I roll up. Because they feel a little bit safer when I get there.”
Even still, families of tow truck operators worry every day that their loved one won’t make it home alive. When McClary’s truck was struck, he immediately thought of his family.
“As soon as it happened, as soon as the supervisor got out there, I called my girlfriend just so I could talk to the kids and hear their voices,” said McClary. “That was the only thing going through my head at the time.”
He admits he was nervous the next time he was called to assist a member on the freeway but says it won’t stop him from assisting motorists in need.
“I try not to think about it,” said McClary. “The only thing I can think about the incident is just how fast it happened.”
It’s true; lives can be changed in the blink of an eye. That’s why AAA urges motorists to remain alert and slow down or move over for all roadside workers.
“As long as you’re aware and you see me and I see you, and I notice you’re trying to slow down, that’s fine,” said Patete. “But don’t come flying past me, because I’m just trying to do my job.”
Wall of the Fallen
Tow truck operators killed in the line of service are honored at the Wall of the Fallen in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Members of the International Towing and Recovering Hall of Fame and Museum dedicated the monument Sept. 9, 2006. The Wall of the Fallen mission reads:
“To honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, to generate public awareness of the dangers involved in the towing and recovery industry and to permanently record and commemorate those involved in fatalities in the towing and recovery industry.”
During the 13th annual Wall of the Fallen ceremony,
held Oct. 12, 2019, ITRHFM added names of 45 towing operators who died in the line of duty. The ceremony, remembered each victim, shared their individual stories and recognized their families. AAA President and
CEO Marshall Doney addressed attendees expressing appreciation, offering condolences and pledging
AAA‘s support in educating the public about the importance of Slow Down, Move Over laws.
AAA Launches ‘How to Drive Online’ Program to Meet Growing Need
Amid a growing number of teenagers choosing to obtain their license before they turn 18, AAA is expanding its offering for driver education in a unique and accessible way with a new online course.
“Since inexperience is the No. 1 cause of teen driver crashes, driver education isn’t something that should be taken lightly,” said Kellie O’Riordan, traffic safety program manager for AAA Ohio Auto Club and certified AAA driver training instructor. “Busy families want the best for their children, which is why we are excited about AAA’s ‘How to Drive Online’ course. The curriculum exceeds all standards of care for
new drivers.”
ABOUT THE COURSE
AAA’s “How to Drive Online” is authored and produced by the nation’s leading automotive safety and driving instructors and approved by the Ohio Department of
Public Safety. It uses videos, simulations and interactive exercises to teach students lifelong driving skills.
Online driver education courses like AAA’s “How to Drive Online” offer a convenient alternative for busy students to obtain the state-required 24-hours of classroom instruction. Participants can log in and out of the course as needed and save their progress for later completion.
TEEN DRIVER FACTS
Access to proper driver education and training is
a priority for AAA. According to research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, more than 60% of teens achieved their driver’s license before age 18.
This new report reveals a changing trend, with an 11% increase in teen licensure from when the Foundation first evaluated the issue in 2012. Additionally, teens living in the Midwest tend to be licensed at younger ages,
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