Roadside assistance and recovery experts are calling for the Government to make the ‘slow down or move over safely’ motto a safety measure within the Highway Code to help protect lives.

Accidents involving independent recovery operators and roadside technicians could be avoided by raising awareness among road users

Reformed in 1997, the ‘Slow Down Move Over’ group – which is supported by businesses including Allianz Partners UK, AXA, Call Assist, LV= Britannia Rescue – is focused on building a culture of awareness on the need for drivers to take action when presented with a temporary hazard on the road network, such as broken-down vehicles.

The campaign has come under increased focus in the last month after the RAC, AA and Green Flag joined forces to also call for updates to motorway safety rules to protect their own recovery patrols as well as other road users, following the deaths of an RAC roadside technician and two other recovery drivers.

Commenting on the call by industry, Paul Anstee, director of ‘Slow Down Move Over’ and managing director of recovery and roadside breakdown company Service On Site, said: “We have been working hard to drive change across the industry and by fellow motorway users. Now that we have backing from the majority of key players across the industry, we are confident that the much-needed change will indeed happen.”

Another supporter of the campaign is Richard Goddard, managing director of rescue and recovery operator, Automania. He spearheads an All Party Parliamentary Group in partnership with public affairs specialists Tendo, to get the industry recognised as the fourth emergency service alongside the police, ambulance and fire service, and is lobbying Government to back the use of red lights by technicians and recovery operators, which he says are vital in getting motorists to slow down and move away.

Goddard added: “Recovery agents need protecting, and whilst the safety of passengers is important, so is the safety of our staff and all assistance professionals. The industry lost three agents in the last year, which confirms how serious this matter is.”