Emission control: Metro Freeway Service Patrol
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Have you ever been running late to work and run out of gas during your commute? Got a flat tire that you could really use some help changing? Don’t know what’s wrong with your car, but from the black emissions spewing out behind you, you know something’s definitely not right? Well, if you’re in Los Angeles during morning or evening commute, don’t fret. Call #399 from your cell phone and the Metro Freeway Service Patrol will be there soon.
The Metro Freeway Service Patrol is a “free” service for stranded freeway motorists. The funding for this program was set up in 1990 by Proposition C, which funded transportation improvements and actions to reduce traffic congestion. So what exactly do these tow trucks do?
“The FSP tow trucks reduce traffic congestion by efficiently getting disabled cars running again or by quickly removing those cars from the freeway. FSP also greatly reduces the chances of further incidents caused by onlookers and impatient drivers. In addition, FSP helps save fuel and reduce air polluting emissions by reducing stop-and-go traffic.”
Now I personally had a GREAT experience with the Freeway Service Patrol. Many years ago, a friend and I were driving along the freeway in Glendale, CA when we ran out of gas. It was during rush-hour and we barely made it to the side of the freeway with all the traffic. Within minutes of us pulling over, a Metro Freeway Service Patrol tow truck pulled up behind us. We didn’t even have time to pull out our AAA cards, much less call them. But then the tow truck driver told us it was a free service, we didn’t need to do anything else. He would give us a gallon of gas and direct us to the nearest gas station…and he did. Within minutes we were on our way again!
So I guess you could say the Metro Service Freeway Patrol is another helpful step towards lowering harmful emissions. Now in addition to keeping your car tuned up, using a good fuel additive and car-pooling when you can…the next time you are on a Los Angeles freeway in heavy traffic, look around and you’ll probably see the Metro Service Freeway Patrol helping stranded motorists and thus keeping the freeways moving and lessening the harmful emissions that result from stop-and-go traffic.
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