Tow-truck and emergency vehicle drivers on Vancouver Island are honking mad over what they say is a concerning trend on the roads that is putting their lives at risk.

They say other motorists on the road are ignoring the law that says they have to slow down and move over when approaching tow trucks or emergency vehicles with flashing lights.

Between 2016 and 2015, there have been 15 deaths and 280 injuries in B.C. caused by drivers and emergency personnel being hit by other vehicles, according to Worksafe BC.

Drivers who have nearly become one of those statistics are now speaking out in hopes of changing bad habits.

Steve Blunt says when he’s called to tow a vehicle, he keeps a close eye on passing vehicles because near-misses are becoming dangerously frequent.

“I literally had to jump on the deck of my truck, barrel roll backwards because if I didn't…I could've lost an arm,” said Blunt. “I don’t know how bad it could’ve been. You take the measures you have to.”

The law was revised in 2015 to include all vehicles stopped on the side of the road with flashing red, yellow or blue lights.

When the speed limit is 80 kilometres per hour or higher, drivers must slow down to 70 km/h and move one lane over.

On roads under 80 km/h, drivers are required to shift one lane over and drop their speed to 40 km/h.

"They don't notice you, or they don't have enough time to move over, or they don't really know they have to move over,” said Hubert Brauckman of HB Towing. “Whether it’s awareness or plain ignorance, I don’t know.”

Drivers who ignore the slow down and move over law could face a $173 fine if they’re caught.

"Red lights, blue lights or yellow lights, they should be moving over and slowing down,” said Cpl. Mike Elston of Central Vancouver Island Traffic Service. “We're looking at hydro, tow trucks, police, fire, ambulance – anyone who is out doing work on the road with their lights flashing."

Blunt and other tow truck drivers say Mounties also need to step up enforcement of those breaking the law.

“What’s it going to come to? Is one of us going to have to die?” he said.

Elston said a blitz planned for last week didn’t go ahead because of poor road conditions brought on by extreme weather, but RCMP will soon be conducting one on central and northern Vancouver Island.

With a report from CTV Vancouver Island's Jessica Lepp