CHP to Put Tow Trucks on Freeway
The California Highway Patrol will put three tow trucks, two wheel-lift trucks and one flatbed carrier on the Santa Monica Freeway between La Cienega Boulevard and the Los Angeles River in an attempt to reduce traffic delays and ensure safety, officials said Tuesday.
The “freeway service patrol,†a one-year pilot project, will begin Thursday.
“The prime mission of the drivers will be to assist disabled vehicles out of the traffic lanes and onto a safe area where normal assistance can be obtained,†Officer Michael Maas said.
Civilian employees have been hired and trained by the state to operate the trucks, Maas said. Each truck will be equipped with a two-way radio, which will enable the drivers to contact a CHP officer if a problem arises.
The patrols will be in operation from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Maas said. Weekend and holiday patrols are also being planned to coincide with special events and high-volume traffic periods.
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