Roadshow: Free tow-truck service gets rave reviews - San Jose Mercury News
Q I had a blowout on Interstate 880 recently and (understatement) it was a dangerous situation. I called AAA, which said it would respond in 20 to 30 minutes. Then within moments, a white tow truck pulled up, a guy jumped out, gave me a pamphlet and asked me if I wanted my tire changed for free. I was suspicious since he kept pushing the free part and thought it had to be some sort of scam.
I said no thanks several times until he backed his truck up and stayed a few hundred feet behind me. Over the next 30 minutes while I waited for AAA in the heat, I read the pamphlet and found out that the guy was totally legitimate and that this was the Freeway Service Patrol -- something I had never heard of before. I would have been off the road immediately instead of sitting there while cars flew by at 70-90 mph. When AAA arrived, the FSP truck pulled back onto the freeway and honked nicely. He waited to make sure someone arrived before leaving.
I would have accepted the aid gratefully if I knew that it was legit. Can you let others know about this free roadside service? None of my co-workers had heard about this service either.
Cassie Bailey
San Jose
A Oh, I have, and I will again. But first "...
Q The other day my boat trailer tire shredded and I had to stop on the Luther Gibson Freeway north
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of the Benicia Bridge. I pulled over to the shoulder, and within five minutes an FSP truck arrived to change the tire for me. Free of charge! This patrol is sponsored by the CHP, Caltrans and Metropolitan Transportation Commission. I lucked out! A big THANKS to this service.
Gordon Huntze
San Jose
A The FSP involves 83 trucks that rove about 550 miles of Bay Area freeways looking for stalls and crashes with the goal of getting help to motorists as fast as possible. They operate primarily during morning and afternoon commute hours. Weekend service is provided in Napa, as well as seasonally along Highway 17.
The FSP tow trucks are equipped for nearly any contingency. Drivers carry standard auto repair and towing equipment, 5 gallons of diesel fuel, 5 gallons of unleaded gasoline and 5 gallons of water.
The program costs about $7 million a year. Trucks have an automatic vehicle location system that enables CHP and Caltrans to monitor their location and improve dispatching efficiency. Financing comes through a combination of federal, state and local dollars, including a $1 annual vehicle registration fee in the nine Bay Area counties.
An FSP beat will be added on I-280 between Highway 92 and Highway 85 in July. And new equipment and trucks will be added along I-880 to better assist big rigs in the East Bay.
Q Now that school is back in session and traffic in the Bay Area has picked up, has the Bay Bridge time-of-day pricing had any impact? I'm sure that traffic drops for a while any time there is an increase in the toll. Since the toll falls from $6 to $4 after 10 a.m., has traffic actually increased between 10 a.m. and noon? Or has traffic just dropped overall due to the toll increase? I predict some drivers might delay their trip if they usually cross shortly before 10 a.m., but that it has virtually no impact earlier or later. I can't see people delaying an 8 a.m. commute to 10 a.m. just to save $2.
Jim Bodwin
Cupertino
A Your prediction is coming true that just before and just after the peak period there are shifts in traffic. But it's too early to gauge the impact of the new tolling policy that went into effect July 1. Ask this question in another month, as traffic should really pick up after the Labor Day weekend. Right now, the big change has been a 32 percent drop in carpooling, as carpoolers now pay a $2.50 toll, where before they crossed free of charge.
Q Have you heard the story about the wrong-way driver on the freeway? Aging lady knows that her absent-minded husband is out driving. She calls him on his (hands-free, of course) cell phone: "Harry, there's a report on the radio about a wrong-way driver on the freeway. I am worried about you." Husband: "Martha, there's hundreds of them."
John Joss
Mountain View
A Thanks for the laugh!
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