By Bubba Johnson
Bubba’s Towing & Recovery
How many more tow truck operators must die on Kentucky highways before this state decides their lives are worth protecting?
That question weighs heavily on the men and women who work the shoulders of our interstates every day. It weighs on their families. It weighs on every small towing business owner who sends a driver out into traffic knowing there is no real barrier between them and a distracted driver traveling 70 miles per hour.
“Troy’s Law,” currently filed as House Bill 282, was introduced to provide tow operators with an added layer of protection while assisting stranded motorists. The bill would allow tow trucks to use rear-facing blue flashing lights while stopped on highways to improve visibility and alert approaching drivers to slow down and move over.
The legislation is named in honor of Troy Caldwell, a Kentucky tow operator who was tragically killed while working along Interstate 64 in 2024. His death was not just another statistic. It was a devastating reminder of how dangerous roadside recovery work truly is.
Tow operators work in conditions most drivers rarely think about. They respond in the middle of the night. They respond in heavy rain and snow. They respond on narrow shoulders with traffic rushing past them. When a family breaks down on the side of the road or a crash blocks a highway, it is a tow operator who answers the call.
Their job requires them to stand inches from moving traffic while hooking chains, loading wrecked vehicles, clearing debris, and helping strangers in crisis. They do not have the protection of guardrails or patrol cars blocking traffic. They rely on visibility and the attention of drivers who may be distracted by phones, fatigue, or speed.
Kentucky already has a Move Over law requiring drivers to slow down and change lanes when approaching emergency vehicles. But many in the towing industry believe it is not enough. Tow trucks are not always as immediately recognizable as police cruisers or fire engines, especially at night or in poor weather conditions.
Troy’s Law addresses that gap. It allows the controlled use of rear-facing blue flashing lights strictly while a tow truck is stopped and assisting motorists. It does not allow blue lights while actively towing or driving down the road. It is specific, limited, and focused solely on increasing visibility during roadside assistance.
This is not about turning tow trucks into law enforcement vehicles. It is not about expanding authority. It is about being seen. It is about creating one more unmistakable signal to drivers that they need to slow down and move over.
Yet despite the clear safety purpose, Troy’s Law remains in committee and has not been brought forward for a vote. Many in the towing industry believe it is being held up and not allowed to advance.
That delay has sparked growing frustration among blue-collar workers across the Commonwealth. These are small business owners and employees who pay taxes, hire local workers, and help keep Kentucky’s highways safe and open. They clear wrecks after storms. They remove disabled vehicles that block traffic. They assist law enforcement at crash scenes.
They are not asking for special privileges. They are asking for protection.
Kentucky would not be breaking new ground by passing this legislation. Other states have already taken similar steps and seen positive results.
Pennsylvania strengthened its Move Over protections through Senate Bill 1281 in 2020 and Senate Bill 1123 in 2022. Those measures expanded visibility requirements and reinforced the responsibility of drivers to slow down and change lanes when approaching emergency response areas.
Supporters of Troy’s Law point to Pennsylvania’s experience as proof that enhanced roadside visibility laws can improve driver compliance and reduce incidents involving tow operators and other responders.
In fact, Kentucky advocates have received formal written support from Pennsylvania officials.
In a letter dated February 10, 2026, Donald Beishl, Chief of Staff to Pennsylvania Senator Doug Mastriano, expressed support for Troy’s Law and thanked Kentucky advocates for their efforts to advance the legislation.
The letter stated:
“Troy’s Law is an important proposal aimed at improving safety for tow truck operators by allowing the use of rear-facing blue flashing lights while stopped and assisting motorists on highways. Named in honor of Troy Caldwell, a tow operator who was tragically killed while working on I-64 in 2024, the legislation is intended to increase visibility and encourage drivers to slow down, while appropriately restricting the use of blue lights during active towing.”
The letter further noted that Pennsylvania had enclosed copies of its enacted Move Over bills and letters of support sent to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Senate President Robert Stivers, and House Speaker David Osborne. Pennsylvania officials offered to serve as a resource and share their experience as Kentucky considers the measure.
Kentucky does not need to lead the nation on this issue. But we should not lag behind when other states have already shown that stronger visibility laws can save lives.
Every time a tow operator steps out of a truck onto a highway shoulder, there is risk. Every time traffic speeds past without slowing down, that risk increases. And every time legislation designed to improve safety sits idle, families continue to wait and wonder whether their loved one will make it home.
This is not a partisan issue. It is not about politics. It is about protecting hardworking men and women who serve the public every single day.
The question remains: How many more funerals will it take before action is taken?
Troy’s Law deserves a vote. It deserves open debate. And Kentucky’s tow operators deserve to know that their safety matters.
It is time to move Troy’s Law out of committee and put it to a vote.
Lives depend on it.
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