Tow truck operator safety: preventing struck-by injuries on the road
Official title: A Multidisciplinary Approach for Tow Truck Operator Safety
Funded at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa · NIH-11394106 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at reducing fatalities and injuries among tow truck workers by finding practical ways to prevent drivers from striking them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tuscaloosa, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | September 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $479,538 |
| NIH project number | 5R01OH012695-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394106 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
N/A for this grant (not a patient-facing clinical trial)
✕Less likely to help
Not applicable since this is an occupational safety study, not a medical treatment study.
What this research studies
This project seeks to understand why struck-by incidents happen to tow truck operators and to develop real-world countermeasures. Researchers will study operator and driver behaviors, road conditions, and compliance with traffic laws to identify points where prevention can be added. The work will translate findings into actionable safety practices and policies that can be adopted by the towing industry and regulators. The goal is to make roadside work safer for operators while keeping essential towing operations efficient.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could lead to safer roadside work for tow truck operators and fewer fatalities.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work on occupational safety has identified behavioral factors as key drivers of traffic-related injuries; this project aims to build on that with a focused towing-industry approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Penmetsa, Praveena — University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
- Study coordinator: Penmetsa, Praveena
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.