| Almost every state in the United States of | | | | late 1990s/early 2000s for most states. New |
| America has a DOT Emergency Response Team | | | | Jersey added their Emergency Response Team in |
| that patrols the major highways and byways of | | | | the mid 2000s and it has been in use ever since. |
| their respective state. DOT stands for | | | | They patrol I-295, Routes 70 and 73, the Garden |
| Department of Transportation and each state in | | | | State Parkway, the Atlantic City Expressway, the |
| the union has a department like this. DOTs help to | | | | New Jersey Turnpike, Routes 55 and 42, I-76, |
| maintain the safety and construction of state | | | | I-676 and many more. |
| highways and interstate highways by performing | | | | More often than not, a state's Emergency |
| construction work, repair work and providing | | | | Response Team is the first vehicle to arrive on |
| Emergency Response Teams for its citizens. An | | | | scene at an accident since they are already |
| Emergency Response Team usually patrols the | | | | patrolling the highways. Once on scene the crew |
| highways and byways of the state to aid | | | | can block lanes, remove debris or recharge the |
| motorists with problems when driving on the | | | | battery of a broken down car. Emergency |
| roads. | | | | Response Teams have helped to limit the number |
| A Department of Transportation Emergency | | | | of accidents and broken down vehicles on the |
| Response Team patrols the highways each and | | | | roads of America since they were introduced |
| every day, all hours of the day, from one end of | | | | years ago. These teams also help to keep the |
| the highway to another, looking for trouble spots | | | | flow of traffic moving at a significant pace when |
| on the roads and drivers dealing with car | | | | working at an accident scene by blocking lanes far |
| problems. Those trouble spots could be debris on | | | | enough in advance of the accident scene. |
| the highway, potholes, accidents, car fires, stalled | | | | How many times has your car stalled on the |
| vehicles and vehicles that have run out of fuel. | | | | highway and you have called your AAA agent and |
| Emergency Response Teams can recharge a | | | | it takes hours on end for a truck to arrive? |
| car's battery, push it off the highway if it is | | | | Maybe you are on an unfamiliar roadway and |
| blocking one of the lanes, close down lanes of the | | | | your car stalls. You don't want to have to wait |
| highway for an accident and much more. | | | | forever for someone to come assist you with |
| Each state's Department of Transportation | | | | restarting your vehicle. That's what makes |
| Emergency Response Team has complete access | | | | Department of Transportation Emergency |
| to local and state police, fire and emergency | | | | Response Teams so helpful and effective for |
| personnel. They are in constant contact with | | | | motorists on the roads these days. They can |
| those arms of public safety at all times and can | | | | arrive at almost a moment's notice since there |
| request emergency services at a moment's | | | | are more than a handful of them patrolling each |
| notice. Emergency Response Teams haven't been | | | | highway on a daily basis. |
| around for too long, they first appeared in the | | | | |