TxDOT offers free towing program for drivers in El Paso stuck on the freeway

There’s no shortage of headaches on I-10 through El Paso.

From construction, to traffic jams and accidents– the dangers exist.

However, sometimes the biggest danger comes from a vehicle that’s not moving and might not even have anyone inside.

It’s been nearly one year since TxDOT launched its free towing program aimed to keep drivers safe when they find themselves stuck on the freeway.

ABC-7 met with some of the people behind the effort to keep stranded drivers safe, including ‘El Paso Towing’ driver Marshall Lawrence.

It was 4 o’clock in the afternoon and the Lawrence was clocking in for TxDOT.

“Right now we are coming up on the highway looking for vehicles that are abandoned, that are stalled,” Lawrence said as we rode along with him during his shift.

TxDOT’s free towing program is in action every rush hour from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m and later in the day from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. between Viscount and Thorn.

“We pick them up and take them to a safer location off of the highway,” said Lawrence, who is one of four El Paso towing drivers on the afternoon shift.

It’s been nearly a year since TxDOT put the free towing program into action, which has cost $263,000 to date. TxDOT says that the money, coming from state and federal funding, was well spent.

“The amount saved in workers’ hours and the human cost of those traffic jams is multiple times that,” said Jennifer Wright, TXDOT spokesperson.

Most important to the program is the safety of everyone on the road.

“The shoulder, where there are shoulders, that’s considered an escape lane and that’s an opportunity for someone to avoid a crash by pulling off,” Wright said.

If your vehicle is towed to one of the three lots all you need to do is call El Paso Police’s non-emergency line, (915) 832-4400, to get the location. You have ten days to pick up your vehicle, free of charge.

They do not disclose the location to the public for the sake of safety.

If you do not pick up your vehicle within the 10-day window it will be impounded.

“All you need is your keys. This is not impounded. I’m afraid people may think that they don’t have permission to get their own vehicle. They do. We just took it out of the way,” explained Wright.

“I’ve had people thank me. I’ve had people try to pay me. I refuse to accept that because this is a free service from TxDOT,” said Lawrence.

The free towing program is funded through March. TxDOT says nearly 2,000 vehicles have been towed since the program started.

TxDOT’s Highway Emergency Response Operator (HERO) program, a longer term, citywide initiative that will assist stranded motorists on major state roads with emergency situations such as flat tires and dead batteries is in the works. It is expected to be in place by mid-to-late 2019.