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California driving lesson · Safe Driving Fundamentals

Disabled on the freeway & Freeway Service Patrol

A 3-minute lesson from the California course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Safe Driving Fundamentals
Checkpoint questions
5
Source pages
75, 76

A breakdown on the freeway puts you next to high-speed traffic. Get to the right shoulder, stay buckled in, and call for help. In some areas the CHP Freeway Service Patrol helps for free.

If your vehicle stops working on the freeway:

  • 1. Safely pull over to the right shoulder
  • 2. If you must get out, exit on the right side, away from traffic
  • 3. Dial 511 from your cell phone or find a call box
  • 4. Return to the vehicle as soon as you can, entering from the right side
  • 5. Stay inside with your seat belt on until help arrives
  • 6. Use your emergency flashers at your discretion
Handbook p. 75 ↗
511

Number to dial for freeway assistance and Freeway Service Patrol information

Handbook p. 75 ↗

It may be safer to get out and stay away from the vehicle when:

  • There is not enough space on the shoulder
  • There is a guardrail
  • There is an area where you can safely stay away from freeway lanes
Handbook p. 75 ↗

CHP Freeway Service Patrol (FSP)

Provides free emergency roadside services during commute times in certain areas.

Handbook p. 75 ↗

FSP will:

  • Give you a gallon of gas if you run out
  • Jump start a dead battery
  • Refill your radiator and tape hoses
  • Change a flat tire
  • Report a collision to CHP
  • Tow you free to a CHP-approved location if they can't start your vehicle
Handbook p. 76 ↗

FSP will not:

  • Tow your vehicle to a private repair service or residence
  • Recommend tow companies or repair and body shops
  • Tow motorcycles
  • Help vehicles in a collision, unless directed to by CHP
Handbook p. 76 ↗

Know the rule

If FSP can't start your vehicle, CHP will notify an auto club or towing service.

Handbook p. 76 ↗

Put it into practice

Your car dies in the middle lane during the evening commute but you coast to the right shoulder. Stay buckled in, call 511 and ask for FSP. If you run out of gas, they can give you a gallon for free.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

If your vehicle becomes disabled on the freeway, where should you try to pull over?
  1. The left shoulder
  2. The right shoulder
  3. The carpool lane
  4. The center median

Answer: The right shoulder

If your vehicle stops working on the freeway, safely pull over to the right shoulder.

Handbook p. 75 ↗
What number can you dial from a cell phone for freeway assistance information?
  1. 411
  2. 911 only
  3. 511
  4. 311

Answer: 511

Dial 511 from your cell phone or locate a call box for freeway assistance.

Handbook p. 75 ↗
What service does the CHP Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) NOT provide?
  1. A gallon of gas if you run out
  2. A jump start for a dead battery
  3. Changing a flat tire
  4. Towing to your own repair shop

Answer: Towing to your own repair shop

FSP will not tow to a private repair service or residence; they tow free of charge to a CHP-approved location instead.

Handbook p. 76 ↗
If you must exit a disabled vehicle on the freeway, you should exit on the side away from traffic.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Exit on the right side, away from traffic, if you must get out of a disabled vehicle on the freeway.

Handbook p. 75 ↗
CHP Freeway Service Patrol will tow motorcycles as part of its free services.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

FSP explicitly will not tow motorcycles.

Handbook p. 76 ↗
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