Emergency responders who help stranded drivers on the side of the road are struck and killed nearly four times more than reported. A new study by the AAA Foundation for Safety reveals a disturbing picture of the dangers of helping stranded drivers. AAA Foundation researchers combed through the data and uncovered 123 roadside assistance providers killed in the U.S. by passing vehicles between 2015 and 2021, nearly four times the approximate 34 killed listed in national crash data. The discrepancy is due to inconsistent reporting in states and jurisdictions, including times when some roadside workers are identified as “pedestrians.” The research also notes that while yearly total traffic fatalities increased significantly over the study period, the data suggest that roadside assistance provider fatalities increased even more.