TDOT announces new roadside assistance program in NETN

The Tennessee Department of Transportation is launching a roadside assistance program in Northeast Tennessee. TDOT announced Friday that it will bring its Rural Service Patrol to Region 1, which encompasses all of Northeast Tennessee. The RSP will provide roadside assistance to stranded drivers, providing fuel, water and low-level mechanical assistance, as well as quickly assist with clearing crash scenes and providing additional safety coverage and first aid. In Region 1, 40 dedicated RSP staff will operate with 25 fully equipped trucks placed across the area. RSP will patrol 1344 miles every week along 12 defined routes on interstates in Region 1. Active patrols will be from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. every day, and on-call overnight support for major incidents. The program represents a roughly $16.7 million investment from the Tennessee General Assembly. The patrol will provide roadside assistance at no cost.