Troopers Act Quickly To Remove Stalled Cars From Along Interstate

I had to feel for the pickup driver stalled in the middle lane of Interstate 90 near Havana last week. He was in a nasty fix, head under the hood of the expired beast at 5:30 p.m., temperature 90-something and cars piling up behind him.

Despite my sympathy, I was glad to squeeze around him, ahead of the pack that was doomed to get logjammed because of the blocked lane at rush hour.

But a lane-blocking breakdown is more than just an inconvenience to commuters. It’s a real safety hazard, particularly for the guys in the back of the pack who can only hope the cars screaming up behind them stop in time.

The Washington State Patrol takes breakdowns along I-90 very seriously and is quick to enforce an immediate-tow policy between Sunset Hill and Argonne Road, says the WSP spokesman, Sgt. Chris Powell.

If troopers see a stranded car in that area, they will automatically call a tow truck and get it impounded, often in a matter of minutes.

Signs at both ends of the corridor and now at all on-ramps warn drivers of the tow policy. It’s the region’s biggest no-parking zone. (Outside that corridor there is a 24-hour tow policy, unless the car is creating a hazard, in which case it will get yanked right away.)

Even cars not blocking traffic, off to the side of the road or in the median, fall under the policy.

“Cars in the median cause trouble,” Powell says. “As traffic gets heavier, you get a ripple effect. People have a tendency to slow down to look at vehicles on the median and we see rear-end collisions. A study on parked cars on the shoulder shows an increase in collisions … They’re a visual hazard.”

And besides disturbing the flow of traffic, stalled cars themselves are a magnet for collisions, Powell says.

It might seem as if there’s plenty of space on the shoulder or median, but there really isn’t if a driver needs to swerve into those areas to avoid another car, he says.

“It’s amazing how often you see a stopped car get hit. Drivers are distracted with cellular phones, road maps, drinking lattes … drivers’ attention isn’t entirely on driving and they stray over that fog line.”

“Drivers need an emergency recovery area,” says Powell.

If you should be unfortunate enough to break down on the interstate, Powell recommends getting as far off the road as physically possible and then waiting for help (locking the doors for security).

With the proliferation of cellular phones, passersby often will phone WSP to inform them of stranded motorists, and a trooper will be quick to respond if he or she is available.

When a trooper arrives, he or she will try to get the car going if it just needs a jump or a simple repair. Otherwise a tow truck will be called and the car’s owner will be billed. (The fee should be a standard rate, with no penalties or extra charges.)

For good samaritans who do have cellular phones and see a stalled car, Powell says your call to WSP is appreciated and he requests you give a brief description of the car along with its location.

If you do get out of your stalled car, Powell advises keeping the vehicle between yourself and oncoming traffic.

“Every single winter we have car-pedestrian collisions when people get out of their car and are standing there and get hit. Other cars will come in on the same glide path as they did,” he says.

Even in good weather, you could easily be clipped by a passing car, perhaps with an impaired driver, if you are too near the driving lanes.

If a driver hikes to a pay phone to call for help, Powell advises also calling WSP to inform them because if a trooper comes upon the vehicle, he or she will automatically call for a truck and two truck drivers might show up at the scene.

If you should get stranded, beware of accepting help from strangers, helpful though they may seem. Or if you see someone in trouble, be careful about offering assistance. In either case, all may not be what it seems, Powell says.

, DataTimes MEMO: On Your Way is a Valley Voice column focusing on commuter lifestyles and issues. Your views on any of the topics discussed are invited. Please write: On Your Way, The Valley Voice, 13208 E. Sprague, Spokane, WA 99216. Or fax us at 459-5482.