ROADSIDE SAFETY
ENLIGHTENING LIGHTS TV’s Al Quiring and J.W. Speaker team up on roadside safety
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f there’s one thing Al Quiring really wants to see his fellow towing professionals do, it is to take their personal safety more seriously. In fact, when asked what advice he would share with ambitious young people in the towing sector looking to build-up their businesses would be, he says: “Pay attention to what is coming down the road, and make sure it pays attention to you.” It is good advice. Being struck by a fastmoving vehicle during a roadside operation will end a career far more quickly than any particular business decision. The Highway Thru Hell star, whose profile on the show has increased significantly in its more recent episodes, has teamed up with U.S. manufacturer J.W. Speaker in order to promote his message—and to promote the company’s own lighting solutions. It is difficult to imagine a more charming pitchman. Even when promoting J.W. Speaker’s products, Quiring seems absolutely sincere. “The SmartHeat, is the cat’s meow for keeping the lens clear. I use the Model 8800 SmartHeat Headlights.” explains Quiring. “What is most important to me is that the
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SmartHeat lets drivers working in adverse road conditions spend less time outside of their cabs, where it is dangerous.” That’s not to say he doesn’t know his stuff. Even when taken by surprise by a question about the advantages of the SmartHeat lenses over halogens, Quiring doesn’t miss a beat. “A halogen light generates a lot of heat— most of which is directed inside, not onto the lens. That makes them a big power draw. With my lights, the SmartHeat technology is incorporated into the LED light itself. There’s also a grid pattern on the front, which means nothing is going to stop them from beaming clear down the highway.” The veteran road warrior, however, can only be held back for so long. “Look, whether it is a kid chasing a ball, or a herd of wood bison, I don’t want my truck hitting it,” Quiring says. “I could pay $15 for bulbs, but the investment is worth it.” It is clear J.W. Speaker has no interest in reducing Quiring’s famously frank style into a bunch of agency-approved sound-bites. In fact, long before he was a celebrity, J.W. Speaker had sought out Quiring’s input on product performance.
