85R12056 JGH-D
By: Cain H.C.R. No. 109
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Tow trucks and their drivers have become an
indispensable part of our automotive culture, providing welcome
assistance to stranded motorists and helping to clear traffic
crashes throughout the nation; and
WHEREAS, More than 35,000 towing companies operate in the
United States, and these businesses employ hundreds of thousands of
people, including dispatchers and safety advisors in addition to
tow truck operators; these dedicated individuals respond to nearly
15 million traffic accidents each year, coming to the aid of
motorists and first responders in all types of weather, at all hours
of the day and night; and
WHEREAS, Part of our nation's transportation system for the
past century, the towing industry traces its roots to 1916, when
Ernest Holmes of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was inspired to design the
first tow vehicle after assisting in the recovery of a crashed Model
T; Mr. Holmes and the company he founded went on to pioneer numerous
innovations in towing and produced such classic wreckers as the
W-45 model used by the U.S. military in World War II; and
WHEREAS, Since the earliest days of the industry, tow truck
drivers have faced considerable dangers while performing their
jobs; working in the midst of busy traffic and often in poor weather
conditions, operators regularly put their lives on the line, and an
average of one tow truck worker is killed every six days in the
United States; and
WHEREAS, To lessen the hazards faced by these skilled
professionals, it is important for motorists to observe proper
safety precautions when they encounter tow trucks on the roadways,
including reducing their speed and moving over to provide
additional clearance between the line of traffic and the tow truck
and stranded vehicle; and
WHEREAS, The towing industry provides essential services to
the public, keeping our roadways clear and open for travel, and its
workers are truly deserving of special recognition; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby designate the third week of September as Towing Industry
Awareness Week; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section
391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in effect
until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally
passed by the legislature.