Office of Incident Management - How does HELP Work?
The
HELP trucks operate on assigned routes which are restricted to the core areas of
each city, so that the operators can respond quickly to incidents that have the
most impact on the total freeway system. The routes sometimes vary by time of
day, and the HELP trucks are sometimes sent off of their regular routes to help
with traffic control at major incident scenes. But, we try to maintain patrols
on the assigned routes as much as possible. For maps showing the normal routes
and hours of operation, click here: HELP
Routes
The
"lime-yellow" trucks are equipped with a variety of tools, emergency medical
equipment, traffic cones, traffic control signs, absorbent material, emergency
and work lights, and other equipment to assist with incident management. The
trucks also carry gasoline, diesel fuel, and water. The directional "arrow
boards" on top of the trucks can be raised from inside the truck. The HELP
operators carry two-way radios and cell phones.
All
of the HELP operators are specially trained to deal with the different kinds of
emergencies that occur on our roadways, and the HELP trucks are official
emergency vehicles. You should always yield to a HELP truck just as to other
emergency vehicles. Also, you should be aware that the HELP trucks make frequent
stops. Be especially careful to keep a safe following distance.
The HELP services are provided without charge, and the HELP operators do not accept tips. The operators give postage-paid "comment cards" to each motorist who receives assistance, and we encourage motorists to fill out and mail the card as soon as possible after the incident. |
