'Spirit Ride' casket emphasizes 'Move Over' laws
BUNNELL — Rolling into town escorted by Flagler County sheriff’s deputies, the red, white and blue "Spirit Casket" stood alone on the bed of a John’s Towing truck. But it was not really alone.
Tow truck operators, fire trucks and rescue vehicles filled the loop around the lake at the historic Coquina City Hall in Bunnell early Thursday morning in a show of solidarity for first responders as the focal point of the American Towman Spirit Ride.
With tributes coming from John’s Towing president John Rogers, a Bunnell city commissioner who helped organize the stop in the county seat, Flagler County Commissioner Nate McLaughlin, Bunnell Mayor Catherine Robinson, Bunnell City Manager Dan Davis, Flagler County Fire Rescue Chief Don Petitio and Bunnell Police Chief Tom Foster implored those operating motor vehicles to help raise awareness for the state’s “Move Over” laws.
“Since 1999, we’ve had 300 officers killed by motorists on our Florida highways. It’s devastating to our families, our agencies, our public,” said Foster. “This educates the public. Having been with my former agency in Orange County, having had guys that work for me killed on the side of the road by motorists not paying attention and failing to slow down and move over, it’s important to me personally.”
McLaughlin reflected on the somber meaning behind the commemoration.
“We’re paying homage to those who have lost their lives along the roadside, when you come across a construction worker, a law enforcement officer doing their job, slow down, move over,” he said. “This is their workspace and we need to respect and honor that.”
It might be tough to remember all of the laws the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles has on the books but this one is easy: if you see a law enforcement officer or emergency vehicle assisting someone on the side of the road, move over or slow down by 20 mph based on the posted speed limit.
Failing to do so can result in a ticket, points against your driver’s license and a fine.
The tow truck operators who often work crash scenes or disabled vehicle emergencies hope drivers will use the same caution for them as well.
“This is to make the motoring public aware of the 'slow down, move over' law,” said Rogers. “One tow man loses his life on the highways and byways every six days, so we’re just trying to educate the public that we have loved ones waiting on us at home. The guys are out there working hard and they want to come home at night in one piece.”
As the procession continues its trek around the nation, Robinson said felt a sense of gratitude to the American Towman group for putting Bunnell on their route.
“We’re very honored this ended up in the city of Bunnell, to honor those who work on the side of the road — our construction workers, our firefighters, our police department, even the city employees who are out taking care of business in the city," she said. "They go to work every day and assume and take for granted that they’re going to come home that night.”
More information about Florida’s Move Over law is available at dmvflorida.org/move-over-law.shtml