Twenty years later, drivers continue to fail to Slow Down, Move Over. In 2005, AAA Tow Technician Marty Taylor was performing a vehicle recovery on the roadside on Route 690 in Syracuse when he was struck and killed. The driver failed to Slow Down and Move Over.

“Every mile driven, every delivery made, and every decision behind the wheel carries weight,” said Marty’s son Chris at a ceremony this summer at AAA’s fleet garage in Central New York. “Our drivers are the final link in the chain, and their safety and the safety of the public is paramount.”

Chris, and his mother, Deb, who works at AAA Western and Central New York as a dispatcher, were present at the Drivers of the Year celebration, known now as the Marty Taylor Recognition Award.

Every year, AAA Western and Central New York recognizes Drivers of the Year based on accomplishments from the previous calendar year. The award is presented to two AAA technicians in each of two fleet operations – Western New York and Central New York. The honorees must exhibit outstanding customer service skills, an impeccable safety record, and a commitment to teamwork.

CNY Fleet event photo (WNY Fleet event photo at top)

“This award is named after one of our own, Marty Taylor, whose life ended much too soon in a tragic incident while servicing a member,” explained Marke Dickinson, President and CEO at AAA Western and Central New York who called for a moment of silence at the award ceremonies. “The drivers we are recognizing today are the Best of the Best among AAA Roadside Service Technicians.”

 
This year, the four recipients of the Marty Taylor Recognition Award are Kevin Wheeler (two-time award winner) and Chris Bortz (first time winner) in Western New York and James Malelis (six-time award winner) and Jetin Huang (first time winner) in Central New York. All of them stand out with stellar records of achievement.

Kevin Wheeler, Senior Roadside Technician of the Year, began his career with AAA Western New York Fleet Operations in 2011. He continues to set the bar high, bringing deep technical expertise, an unwavering focus on safety, and a consistently positive attitude to every interaction. Kevin's impact goes far beyond roadside service. He plays a vital role in testing and refining new tools, products, and procedures, helping to drive innovation and continuous improvement. In 2024, Kevin, who lives in Lockport, completed 1,452 road service requests with zero safety violations or complaints.

Chris Bortz has served as a Senior Light Service Roadside Technician at AAA since November 2023 and quickly made a strong impression. He approaches every task with enthusiasm and a positive mindset, always eager to share tips that promote success and efficiency. In 2024, Chris, who lives in the City of Tonawanda, was named Technician of the Month six times. He completed 1,995 road service requests with zero safety violations or complaints.

WNY Fleet - Chris Bortz (left) and Kevin Wheeler 

AAA Roadside Technician James Malelis began his career with AAA Central New York Fleet Operations in March 2010. This is the sixth time he has earned the Marty Taylor Recognition Award thanks to his exceptional knowledge and technical skills. His positive attitude is infectious, continually receiving accolades from AAA members and teammates, and his commitment to safety is without compromise. James, who lives in Clay, was named Technician of the Month five times in 2024 and completed 1,818 road service requests with zero safety violations or complaints.

Jetin Huang, Senior Roadside Technician with AAA, began his career with AAA Central New York Fleet Operations in August 2023 as an ERS technician, and quickly learned the skills needed to move to an ERS Sr. Technician. A true team player, he can always be counted on to help a fellow teammate in need and he represents AAA as the undisputed leader in roadside assistance. In 2024, Jetin, who lives in DeWitt, completed 1,760 road service requests with zero safety violations or complaints.

CNY Fleet - Jetin Huang (left) and James Malelis

“The award is more than a recognition. Their professionalism reflects the very spirit of the award,” Chris said. “We celebrate not just their achievement but also the example it sets for all of us. When we prioritize safety, we honor the legacy of Marty Taylor, and we protect what matters most.”

The annual ceremony always brings back memories of Marty for Todd Ingraham, Director of Automotive Service Operations at AAA Western and Central New York. “He was just an all-around phenomenal guy. He would help anybody do anything, always willing to lend a hand, and he was very knowledgeable within this industry. He just had a personality and a way about him that would make everybody feel happy and comfortable. I can still remember where I was and what was going on when I heard what happened and it was absolutely devastating.”

Deb and Chris Taylor join the CNY Fleet award recipients

Marty’s legacy lives on in AAA Western and Central New York’s commitment to operational excellence and raising awareness of the “Slow Down, Move Over” law, which was expanded in New York last year to include all disabled vehicles on the roadside, requiring drivers to slow down and, if safe to do so, move over when approaching them to help protect motorists.

20 years after Marty Taylor’s death, research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that 42 percent of drivers who admit to breaking the Move Over law say they didn’t realize the behavior was dangerous to roadside workers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that 566 people are killed and more than 14,000 injured annually when dealing with a disabled vehicle at the roadside.

Next time you’re behind the wheel, remember to Slow Down, Move Over when you see roadside workers or any disabled vehicle. It’s the right thing to do, and you could save a life.

AAA Members can rest easy knowing that AAA roadside technicians are highly trained and dedicated to helping tackle all types of car problems. Are you getting all of the great AAA benefits and tow miles you need? Upgrade today!

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