Highway Emergency Response Operators
Encyclopedia
The Highway Emergency Response Operators program is a freeway service patrol
operated in metro Atlanta
, USA by the Georgia Department of Transportation
(GDOT). It is a part of GDOT's Office of Traffic
Operations. Both the program and the individual vehicles are typically referred to by the acronym HERO. The program began in Atlanta in 1994 and has since been expanded in association with GDOT's Navigator Intelligent Transportation System
program.
The HERO unit's primary purpose is to minimize traffic congestion
by clearing wrecked or disabled vehicles from the roadway lane
s and providing traffic
control at incident scenes. As a secondary service, HERO's function as a service patrol; assisting stranded motorists who may have a flat tire or are out of fuel. In addition to their normal duties in metro Atlanta, HEROs have been deployed in the past to assist with traffic control at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia and along Interstates 75 and 16 during hurricane evacuations.
HERO truck operators are GDOT employees, distinguishing the program from freeway service patrols in other states, such as California
, which are operated under contract by private tow truck
companies. The HERO day is split into four shifts - Alpha (morning), Bravo (afternoon), Charlie (weekend) and Delta (overnight). The program operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Typically, HEROs work between 55,000 and 60,000 incidents per year.
Motorists needing HERO assistance may dial 511 (and press 1) to reach a HERO dispatcher. 511 is also the number for general traffic information throughout the state of Georgia.
's Fast Forward Congestion Relief program, the HERO program was recently expanded. Before the expansion (in 2005), there were 48 HERO drivers; as of May 2009 there are nearly 90 positions in the program. This expansion also added several new routes to the HERO coverage area. There are no current plans to expand the HERO program to any other metropolitan areas in Georgia.
Freeway service patrol
A freeway service patrol, alternatively known as a motorist assistance patrol, roadway service patrol, or a courtesy patrol, is the umbrella term for a variety of programs implemented by government agencies, typically state Highway Patrols or Departments of Transportation, to reduce traffic...
operated in metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta
The Atlanta metropolitan area or metro Atlanta, officially designated by the US Census Bureau as the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta Metropolitan Statistical Area, is the most populous metro area in the U.S. state of Georgia and the ninth-largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States...
, USA by the Georgia Department of Transportation
Georgia Department of Transportation
The Georgia Department of Transportation is the organization in charge of developing and maintaining all state and federal roadways in the U.S. state of Georgia. In addition to highways, the department also has a limited role in developing public transportation and general aviation programs...
(GDOT). It is a part of GDOT's Office of Traffic
Traffic
Traffic on roads may consist of pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using the public way for purposes of travel...
Operations. Both the program and the individual vehicles are typically referred to by the acronym HERO. The program began in Atlanta in 1994 and has since been expanded in association with GDOT's Navigator Intelligent Transportation System
Intelligent transportation system
The term intelligent transportation systems refers to information and communication technology that improve transport outcomes such as transport safety, transport productivity, travel reliability, informed travel choices, social equity, environmental performance and network operation...
program.
The HERO unit's primary purpose is to minimize traffic congestion
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
by clearing wrecked or disabled vehicles from the roadway lane
Lane
A lane is a part of the roadway within a road marked out for use by a single line of vehicles in such a way as to control and guide drivers for the purpose of reducing traffic conflicts. Most public roads have at least two lanes, one for traffic in each direction, separated by Lane markings...
s and providing traffic
Traffic
Traffic on roads may consist of pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using the public way for purposes of travel...
control at incident scenes. As a secondary service, HERO's function as a service patrol; assisting stranded motorists who may have a flat tire or are out of fuel. In addition to their normal duties in metro Atlanta, HEROs have been deployed in the past to assist with traffic control at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia and along Interstates 75 and 16 during hurricane evacuations.
HERO truck operators are GDOT employees, distinguishing the program from freeway service patrols in other states, such as California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, which are operated under contract by private tow truck
Tow truck
A tow truck is a vehicle used to transport motor vehicles to another location , or to recover vehicles which are no longer on a drivable surface.Towing services are generally provided by an emergency road service operator...
companies. The HERO day is split into four shifts - Alpha (morning), Bravo (afternoon), Charlie (weekend) and Delta (overnight). The program operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Typically, HEROs work between 55,000 and 60,000 incidents per year.
Motorists needing HERO assistance may dial 511 (and press 1) to reach a HERO dispatcher. 511 is also the number for general traffic information throughout the state of Georgia.
Goals
- To minimize major disruption of freeway traffic flow at incident locations.
- To focus on the factors that cause disruption in the flow of traffic and remove those factors.
- To relieve congestion and maintain a consistent flow of traffic at incident locations
- To reduce response time to traffic-related incidents
Duties
- Patrol the Atlanta-area freeways, Monday through Friday, from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Patrol same freeways on Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 am to 9:30 pm
- Be on call to respond to incidents outside of the above hours.
- Initiate measures to reduce traffic congestion and delays
- Provide support to law enforcement, first-response and other emergency agencies
- Assist in clearing stalled vehicles from the travel lanes
- Help stranded motorists with minor mechanical problems including:
- Change flat tires
- Jump start weak batteries
- Provide fuel, coolant, etc.
- Provide transportation to safer areas
- Provide courtesy use of a telephone
Recent Expansion
As part of Georgia Governor Sonny PerdueSonny Perdue
George Ervin "Sonny" Perdue III, was the 81st Governor of Georgia. Upon his inauguration in January 2003, he became the first Republican governor of Georgia since Benjamin F. Conley served during Reconstruction in the 1870s....
's Fast Forward Congestion Relief program, the HERO program was recently expanded. Before the expansion (in 2005), there were 48 HERO drivers; as of May 2009 there are nearly 90 positions in the program. This expansion also added several new routes to the HERO coverage area. There are no current plans to expand the HERO program to any other metropolitan areas in Georgia.