Emergency services in British Columbia tie a yellow ribbon on crashes. This happens when they are busy and leave the scene before a tow truck has arrived to remove the vehicle. It's a signal to you that you don't have to call 911 to report it.
Multiple Reports are a Problem
When you call in a report the police are obligated to check collisions and insure that no one is hurt. Sometimes manpower does not match the number of incidents reported. The situation was made worse by repeated reports of the same vehicle with a different description and location.
Vehicle Identified with Yellow Ribbon
Please Check Before You Call
I've often wished that people would stop and check before they grabbed their cell phones and reported a crashed vehicle. If the situation was serious the appropriate support could be arranged, and if the vehicle was empty and no one was around we could assign a lower priority and check on others first.
However, we had to be thankful for a drive by report with no further details when it was not a simple abandoned stuck vehicle. There must be a better way!
Once police, fire, ambulance or road maintenance workers have checked a vehicle and found that it is abandoned and no aid is needed beyond a tow truck they will flag it as having been checked with the tape. It will be tied to the mirror or antenna on the side of the vehicle closest to the highway.
Look for the Yellow Ribbon Before Reporting
So, if you come across a vehicle in the ditch on the side of the highway, please be alert for this bright yellow ribbon. If it is present and attached to the vehicle there is no need to notify police. Someone has already been there and we don't need to visit again.
If it isn't, please stop and check if it is safe to do so as someone may need your help.
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