|
Service Assist
by Year:
| 2011 |
395,516 |
| 2010 |
351,941 |
| 2009 |
296,041 |
| 2008 |
320,217 |
| 2007 |
383,584 |
| 2006 |
277,537 |
| 2005 |
298,776 |
| 2004 |
342,895 |
| 2003 |
316,883 |
| 2002 |
279,525 |
| 2001 |
198,372 |
| 2000 |
112,000 |
|
 |
The service
patrol concept,
known today as
the
Road Rangers,
is a free
service of the
Florida
Department of
Transportation
and its partners
and was
initially used
for the
management of
vehicle
incidents in
construction
zones. This
program has
since expanded
to respond to
all type of
incidents and
has become one
of the most
effective
elements of the
Department's
incident
management
program. The
Road Rangers
provide a direct
service to
motorists by
quickly clearing
travel lanes of
minor incidents
and assisting
motorists.
Services can
include:
providing a
limited amount
of fuel,
assisting with
tire changes and
other types of
minor emergency
repairs. Road
Ranger’s are
typically
assigned to work
along major
interstate
corridors and
within
construction
areas on these
interstates.
Specific Road
Ranger patrol
locations can be
found in the
district
descriptions
below.
The Department began funding the statewide service patrol in December 1999. The
benefits of the program have been as follows:
-
Reduction of accidents
-
Reduction of incident duration by assisting the Florida Highway Patrol
-
Assistance to disabled or stranded motorists
-
Removal of road debris
-
Reduction of congestion produced air pollutants
-
Increased safety at incident scenes
The Road Rangers are roving vehicles which patrol congested
areas and high incident locations of the urban freeway and are equipped, as a
minimum, with the following equipment to assist as needed:
-
2 Ton Jacks
-
5 Gallons of Sand
-
Air Compressor
-
Auto Fluids
-
Booster Cables
-
Cell Phones
-
Fire Extinguishers
-
First Aid Kits
-
Flares
-
Flashing Arrow Board
-
Public Address System
-
Radiator Water
-
Reflective Cones
-
Wood Blocks
-
Basic repair tools
Although each contractor has a different make of vehicle, all vehicles are white
in color with the Road Rangers logo affixed to the rear and
sides of the vehicle.
Service patrol drivers are all in uniform, courteous, and most have or
are in training for first aid and CPR.
Each service patrol driver passes out a comment card to every stranded motorist
that is assisted, to be mailed back to the Department to find out how they are
doing. The response so far has been very positive and the program is considered
to be a success. This program along with the already established Motorist Aid
Call Box System has enhanced safety and provided a needed service to the
motoring public.
The Road Ranger Service Patrol is funded by the Florida
Department of Transportation and its partners and is bid out to private
contractors. The best news is that this limited service is
FREE!
For additional information, please contact
Patrick Odom at
Patrick.Odom@dot.state.fl.us
