How Many Tow Truck Drivers Are Murdered Each Year?

Tow truck drivers are often exposed to dangerous situations while they go about their job duties. Sadly, this has led to an increasing number of tow truck driver deaths each year.

While the exact number of tow truck drivers murdered each year is not known, there are several organizations that track these statistics and provide estimates on the number of fatalities.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that in 2017, there were 27 workplace homicides involving tow truck drivers. This was a slight increase from 2016 when there were 24 tow truck drivers killed in the line of duty. However, this number is still much lower than in previous years when as many as 39 tow truck drivers were murdered in a single year.

The majority of these fatalities occur due to violence from customers and other individuals encountered on the job. Unfortunately, many tow truck drivers are not aware of the risks associated with their work until it is too late. This is why it is important for all tow truck operators to take proper precautions when interacting with customers and other people they may come across while on duty.

In addition to taking safety measures, many states have enacted laws to protect tow truck operators from violent acts while on the job. For example, some states have implemented “move over” laws which require motorists to move over a lane or slow down when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle, including tow trucks.

Conclusion

It is clear that the number of tow truck driver deaths each year is still too high. While safety measures and laws can help reduce these fatalities, it is ultimately up to individual operators to take necessary precautions when out on the job. The exact number of how many tow truck drivers are murdered each year may never be known but it remains an important issue that needs to be addressed.

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Karen Watkins