NDOT's Freeway Service Patrol program, also known as FSP, has been helping drivers in need in the Reno/Sparks area since 2002.
"Crash incidents, disabled vehicles, abandoned vehicles, anything on the freeway, we deal with," said Cameron Crowell, Director of Operations for NSP.
This is a job that requires a wide range of qualifications including a hazmat certification, basic mechanic knowledge for automotive repair, first aid, AED, plus multiple levels of traffic incident management training.
The main routes FSP workers patrol is Monday through Friday along I-80, I-580, and occasionally on USA Parkway, depending on the seriousness of the situation. They drive along these same routes until they come across a driver in need of help."
One man was found with his truck overheated and broke down on I-80.
After the driver and FSP worker spent a while working together, the truck was unable to start again. However, the driver, Gabriel, says he's still very grateful for the help.
"It was great. I didn't have any tools with me, and he brought over tools and fire starter, so that's all we need," Gabriel said.
Crowell says service workers respond to about 1,000 car issues per month.
FSP is a non-dispatch service, meaning some of cars they find are reports through the state's road travel sites. Other times they'll just find a pulled over car as they're driving.
They only ever get called by dispatch if there's a crash that other first responders need help with.
Whether it's cleaning debris or controlling traffic, Crowell tells us it's very important to keep traffic moving as much as possible, especially when a crash is causing lane delays.
NDOT says for every minute that the first crash remains a hazard on the freeway, the risk of a second crash happening increases by 2.8%.
"And that's why the secondary crash is so dangerous, because all the vehicles are stopped and then we have high speed freeways coming to a dead stop," said Crowell.
According to the national average, 22% of all crashes are secondary. 18% of those being deadly.
Crowell says a common cause for disabled cars, especially during this time of year, is overheating, "So the higher temperatures are going to cause more overheat situations. They're going to heat up your tires more so it's very critical to make sure that your car is in good running condition."
He says to make sure your cooling system is running, your tire pressure is good, and carry plenty of water for both you and your engine.
Another thing to keep in mind is turning on those headlights during rain showers.
Infrequent rain showers can cause the mix of oils and rainwater on the roads, leading to a slippery surface, so make sure you're checking your cars and you are checking the roads.
