Death shouldn't be an occupational hazard for those who stop to help others on our roads. Yet every week in America, a tow truck operator is struck and killed while simply doing their job.

Matt Spencer never imagined joining the ranks of grieving families until November 4, 2023, when his 25-year-old son Keegan was killed by a distracted driver on a Michigan freeway. Despite having emergency lights activated and being completely off the roadway, Keegan became another statistic in what Matt describes as a preventable epidemic. This tragedy transformed Matt from a second-generation tower with 45 years of experience into a passionate safety advocate who can no longer return to the profession he loves.

The conversation with Matt and Tom Parbs from Haas Alert reveals the shocking scope of roadside dangers. Beyond towing professionals, crossing guards, utility workers, firefighters, and law enforcement officers face similar risks daily. Most drivers fail to recognize how common behaviors—like adjusting dashboard controls or changing radio stations—constitute dangerous distraction. Without awareness and technology to bridge this knowledge gap, roadside workers continue to pay with their lives.

Hit While Helping, Matt's nonprofit organization, partners with educational initiatives like Flagman to teach K-12 students about roadside safety. Meanwhile, Haas Alert's Safety Cloud delivers nearly half a billion driver alerts annually through navigation apps and connected vehicles. These complementary approaches attack the problem from multiple angles: education for future generations and real-time warnings for today's drivers.

Throughout our conversation, both guests emphasize the need for industry unity. "If our industry can't band together on this issue of safety, what are we?" Matt asks. The passionate call for collaboration extends beyond towing to all roadside professions and even NASCAR, where Jeffrey Earnhardt recently raced a Hit While Helping sponsored car to spread awareness to new audiences.

Whether you're a roadside professional concerned about safety or simply someone who drives, this episode offers crucial insights into how we can collectively ensure those who stop to help others make it home safely to their families. Follow Hit While Helping on social media or visit their website to join this vital movement that turns heartbreak into lifesaving action.