First responders and tow operators

Plain guides for safer crash scenes, rescues and towing for responders and tow crews

Police, fire, EMS and tow crews work at the edge of moving traffic. This page brings together our guides on protecting the scene, rescuing people from damaged vehicles, handling electric vehicles and towing crash damaged cars. Drivers will also find the move over rules that protect responders.

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Protect the scene

A crash scene grows more dangerous every minute it stays in traffic. Learn how cones, protective vehicles and lighting warn drivers, and what move over laws require.

Start hereScene cones, protective vehicles and incident barriers: how crews protect a roadway sceneHow crews layer warnings, blocking vehicles and barriers, and how drivers can helpRead the guideEmergency vehicle lights and scene lighting: how color, brightness and glare affect safetyHow to warn drivers without blinding them and light a roadside scene safelyRead the guideSecondary crashes: why the danger grows every minute a wreck blocks the roadWhy blocked lanes breed more collisions and how to clear the road and stay safeRead the guideWork zone and move over safety: protect road crews, responders and youHow to drive through work zones, read flaggers and move over for crews and respondersRead the guideMove over laws by state: who's protected and what you must doWhich stopped vehicles are protected, when to move over or slow down and what penalties applyRead the guideEmergency vehicle signal preemption: how responders get a safe green lightHow signals detect responders, what the evidence shows and how drivers should reactRead the guide

Rescue, extrication and electric vehicles

Strong steel, air bags and high voltage batteries change how crews cut and stabilize a vehicle. These guides cover rescue tools, rescue sheets and the hazards of damaged EVs.

Start hereVehicle extrication tools and stabilization equipment: how crews free trapped peopleWhat each rescue tool does, why steadying comes first and what to ask locallyRead the guideVehicle rescue sheets and emergency response guides: what they show and how to find yoursHow modern cars complicate rescue and how you can help crews reach you fasterRead the guideUndeployed air bags after a crash: why a damaged car’s safety system can still be liveWhere closed air bags and belt tighteners hide and how to stay safe around themRead the guideEV high voltage parts after a crash: what never to touch and what to tell 911How to tell a car is electric, spot high voltage parts and keep people safeRead the guideWhy a damaged EV battery can reignite after a crash: thermal runaway and stranded energyLearn why a battery that looks safe can flare up hours or days laterRead the guideSpill control and crash scene cleanup: what crews carry and when to call specialistsWhat spill kits handle, who may use them and when hazmat crews must take overRead the guide

Towing and storing crash damaged vehicles

Tow operators move damaged cars, including EVs that can catch fire again. Learn safe towing and storage practices, and what owners need to know about police ordered tows and storage fees.

Start hereTowing and storing a damaged EV: flatbeds, safe distances and who to tellHow to move a damaged EV safely, keep it isolated and brief every handlerRead the guidePolice ordered tows versus a tow you choose: how rotation towing works after a crashWhen police pick your tow company, when you can choose and how to find your carRead the guideTow yard storage fees that keep climbing after a crashHow to stop tow yard storage fees from climbing after a crashRead the guideHow to preserve a badly damaged vehicle before it is repaired, sold or crushedWhen to put a hold on a wrecked car and how to keep its evidence safeRead the guide

Crash investigation tools

Investigators measure, map and download data to learn what happened. These guides explain the tools and what each one can and cannot show.

Start hereCrash scene photography and measurement: what investigators record and what to askHow crews photograph and measure a scene, protect evidence and keep the road safeRead the guideCrash scene mapping: how 3D scanners, total stations and drones help roads reopen soonerWhat each mapping tool records, how faster mapping cuts closures and what to askRead the guideCrash data retrieval equipment: what it reads, who may use it and how to judge resultsHow event data downloads work, what the law allows and how to check a reportRead the guide

More to read

Want to read more? Browse every roadside emergency guide in our library, or see our guides for road crews in work zones.

Browse roadside emergency guidesRoad crews and work zones

These guides offer general education, not training or legal advice. Follow your agency’s procedures, the vehicle maker’s emergency response guide and the laws in your state.

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Safe Driving Resource Center

Guides, self-checks and articles for drivers, parents of new drivers, and families recovering after a crash.

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