Roadside safety: What to do while waiting for a tow truck in Arizona

By Rinny Dyar and Gina Dyar-Murdough | Valley Towing

We’ve been around tow trucks our whole lives. What started with our parents working out of our Mesa garage in the early 1960s has grown into a multi-generational family business committed to keeping Arizona drivers safe.

In all those years and thousands of calls for help, one thing has stayed the same: waiting for a tow can be dangerous if you’re not careful. With April being statistically the worst month for accidents in Arizona — and Fridays and Saturdays the riskiest days to be on the road—prioritizing safety is more important than ever.

Here are a few simple but life-saving tips we’ve learned from decades in the towing business:

• Get out of the vehicle if you’re on the freeway and can exit safely. It might feel safer to stay inside your vehicle, but you’re at greater risk. If it’s safe, exit your vehicle and wait as far as you can off the shoulder of the road.

• Avoid parking in the “gore point.” That triangle-shaped area where freeways split or merge may look like a convenient place to stop, but it’s one of the most dangerous spots on the road.

• If you must leave your car, leave a note. Include your name and number so police know what’s going on — and let them know as soon as you’re safe.

• Turn on your hazard lights. This helps alert other drivers that you’re having car trouble and encourages them to give you space.

• Keep your phone charged. You’ll need it to communicate with the tow company, emergency services, or a friend or family member.

• Stay alert. Even off the road, be aware of your surroundings — especially at night or in unfamiliar areas.

• Have your information ready. Knowing your exact location, vehicle description and insurance details will make it easier and faster for help to find you.

According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, even though early estimates show traffic fatalities are down slightly this year — about 4.4% lower than in 2024 — there are still too many preventable crashes. Alcohol is involved in approximately 25.4% of fatal accidents and speeding contributes to about 29% of traffic deaths, per ADOT.

Every bad decision behind the wheel puts lives at risk — including yours and those who respond when your vehicle breaks down.

Our family has made it our mission to help create safer roads. We’ve seen it all, and what we’ve learned we try to pass along to the communities we serve. Because at the end of the day, we want to make sure you get to your destination.

If you ever find yourself on the side of the road, take a deep breath, call for help and remember these tips. Your life — and the lives of others — may depend on it.

Editor’s note: Rinny Dyar and Gina Dyar-Murdough are co-owners of Phoenix-based Valley Towing. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.