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Freeway Patrol designed to help stranded motorists in Ventura County reports busy first year

One of the Ventura County Transportation Commission's Freeway Service Patrol trucks
VCTC
One of the Ventura County Transportation Commission's Freeway Service Patrol trucks

Some 3,000 motorists were helped with tow truck drivers dealing with about 500 flat tires since the service started in March of 2021.

A freeway patrol service intended to help stranded motorists, and keep traffic flowing on some major Ventura County highways is reporting a busy first year.

The Ventura County Transportation Commission’s Freeway Service Patrol has helped around 3,000 motorists since it was launched in March of 2021. Roving tow trucks patrol sections of Highway 101 from the Los Angeles/Ventura County line to Oxnard, and Highways 23 and 118 in Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley.

During the peak weekday commute hours, they provide services ranging from fixing a flat to helping someone who’s run out of gas. In fact, the drivers have fixed nearly 500 flat tires in the last year. If a vehicle has an issue which can’t be quickly solved, the tow truck will move it to a safe spot.

Money for the program comes from Caltrans, and from a $1 a year fee on vehicles registered in Ventura County.

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral.