If you’ve ever been stuck on the 101 with a flat tire, or stuck behind someone with a flat tire, then a new program to provide emergency roadside assistance on some segments of the highway in Ventura County will be good news.
The idea is that a fleet of roving tow trucks are stationed along sections of Ventura County’s highways – and they’ll spring into action to clear disabled vehicles and assist motorists – and help to keep traffic flowing.
The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) launched the Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) program, providing a fleet of roving service and tow trucks on three segments of Ventura County highways during peak traffic periods to quickly clear disabled vehicles and assist motorists.
Darren Kettle from Ventura County Transportation Commission told KCLU that the trucks are designed to keep motorists safe and traffic flowing.
The three segments, referred to as “beats,” are:
· Beat 1: US-101 from the Ventura County/Los Angeles County line to Camarillo Springs Road;
· Beat 2: US-101 from Camarillo Springs Road to Central Avenue;
· Beat 3: CA-118 from Ventura/Los Angeles County line to State Route 23 (Rocky Peak).
Service on Beat 1 on US-101 begins March 1. Service on Beat 2 on US-101 and Beat 3 on CA-118 will begin later in March and in April.
Services include changing a flat tire, providing a gallon of fuel, and taping leaky hoses. If the FSP driver cannot get a vehicle running quickly, the vehicle can be towed to a safe location off the freeway at no charge, where the motorist can wait for additional assistance.
