Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Tollway has initiated 24-hour Hot Weather Patrols to assist drivers stranded on its roads during a severe heat wave expected to last through Friday, July 25. These patrols are intended to provide faster assistance to motorists in distress due to the extreme temperatures.

Typically, the Illinois Tollway deploys these special patrols when weather conditions pose potential hazards for drivers. The patrols will actively search for stranded vehicles and respond to calls made to *999 motorist assistance, Illinois Tollway dispatch, or the Illinois State Police.

"Protecting our customers is always our highest priority and during this dangerously hot weather we’re re-assigning workers to patrol our roads to ensure we can more rapidly locate and assist any drivers stranded along our system," said Cassaundra Rouse, Executive Director of the Illinois Tollway. "Operating Hot Weather Patrols bolsters our roadway coverage and provides an additional layer of protection to drivers so they can safely complete their travels."

While the Highway Emergency Lane Patrol (H.E.L.P.) trucks operate from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, at least 12 Hot Weather Patrols will offer continuous support throughout the heat wave. Drivers needing assistance should dial *999 and provide details about their location.

The Hot Weather Patrols use crew cab trucks equipped with arrow boards for directing traffic around disabled vehicles. They can also transport passengers if necessary. Common issues addressed by these patrols include empty fuel tanks, flat tires, dead batteries, or overheated radiators.

The Illinois Tollway offers several summer travel tips: maintain proper tire inflation, ensure fluid levels are adequate, keep an emergency kit in your vehicle, avoid using hand-held phones while driving as it is illegal in Illinois, and slow down when approaching stopped vehicles with hazard lights activated.

Drivers are reminded that oases along the Tollway system offer facilities where they can rest or check their vehicles. These locations include food outlets, retail stores, and fuel stations.

The Illinois Tollway operates as a user-fee system without state or federal funding for maintenance and operations. It manages 294 miles of roadways across 12 counties in Northern Illinois.

Information from this article can be found here.