To the Rescue! Free Stranded Motorist Program Extends Hours

The driver with the blinking hazard lights and a blown tire holding up freeway traffic doesn't have to be you.

The Freeway Service Patrol, which provides a free gallon of gas, jump-start, radiator water or tire change to stranded motorists, has expanded the hours it's available to rescue you across 242 miles of county freeways.

Now the patrol will be ready between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends if you run out of gas or get a flat tire on your back to Ramona after a trip down the hill. This is in addition to the patrols that have been running during rush hour periods: 5:30-9:30 a.m., and 3-7 p.m. weekdays.

The free program, which helped nearly 58,000 people last year, is a collaboration between the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol.

"Just one disabled vehicle can cause havoc for thousands of commuters,” SANDAG Executive Director Gary Gallegos said in a statement.

And that one does not have to be you. To get help, call the CHP at 858-637-3800 or call 511 and say “Roadside Assistance.”