Tow Trucks and Car Insurance
When you mention the word tow truck operators some people see red; most probably due to a nasty experience they had with a tow truck operator at one time or another. Yet, tow truck operators provide a much needed service on our roads. We need them when our cars break down, full stop. As they are often one of the first to arrive on an accident scene they can provide assistance to people who were injured in an accident. By removing damaged cars they help the authorities to clear the roads faster – we all know the frustration of being stuck in a traffic jam after an accident has blocked the road.

So what is the problem?
Unfortunately this industry, as many others, is rife with unscrupulous operators who will stop at nothing to get business. They don’t care if they break the law and the public become their victims. The lengths to which they will go to get business are quite scary.

What must you do if you are insured?
When you are involved in an accident contact your insurer immediately. Actually, make sure that you are prepared and know the procedure to follow before the unfortunate incident happens. Most insurers now only deal with authorized tow truck drivers. Your insurer will advise you of the number of the emergency towing assistance number to phone in case of an accident. Many also give you a sticker to display in your car with the number clearly noted. It may also warn against using any other tow truck operator.

If you use an unauthorized operator your insurer will refuse to pay for the towing of your car and that can amount to thousands of rands. Your car also needs to be towed to a repairer approved by your insurance company. Make sure that the number is saved on your cell phone. The problem is that you may be injured and unable to phone the insurance company yourself, that is why it is so important that you display a sticker in your car with the details available.

What can go wrong?
We are back to the unscrupulous tow truck operators. One of the latest scams is that some of them use a cell phone jammer to block calls. They will then offer to phone the insurance company on their phones and pass the phone to you to talk to your insurer. What you don’t know is that you are talking to a fake company and they will authorize the operator to tow your car. Of course, this is totally illegal and should you ever suspect something like this, contact the police and refuse to deal with the operator.

Some of the other malpractices are bribing corrupt police officers to get first notification of an accident; excessive charges; tapping into police frequencies; recommending panel beaters who pay them commission and even putting oil on roads, particularly at sharp corners. Some tow truck operators are also guilty of reckless driving and have caused many accidents themselves.

Who controls tow truck operators?
The industry has two associations – the South African Towing and Recovery Association and the United Towing Association of South Africa (Utasa); both agree that the industry is ridden with scams. Although the tow truck operating business is a private industry they operate on public roads and therefore they need to adhere to regulations. Currently it is far too easy to become a tow-truck operator, everyone wanted in on a very lucrative business with the result that there are far more operators than what is required, actually the industry is totally over-saturated at the present moment.

The associations do not tolerate any wrongdoing by their members and if found guilty of any offence they will suspend their membership and even lay criminal charges. After all, they have to protect their name in an industry that gets very bad press because of the actions of some operators. Ettienne Pel of Utasa said that their members are all encouraged to take advanced driving courses to improve their image and make our roads safer.

How do we rid the industry of the evil?
The associations mentioned above have requested the national transport department to intervene and regulate the industry. Draft legislation is currently circulating through government offices. One of the suggestions was to adopt a system similar to that used in California where authorities issue tenders for tow truck companies and then contract companies to only operate in a specific area. The trucks are all fitted with tracking systems monitoring driving behavior and movements.

Until the situation has been brought under control, you need to stay alert, first of all to avoid being involved in an accident; secondly to make sure that if you are involved in an accident you are not taken for a ride. Pardon the pun.