The Arizona Department of Public Safety is gearing up for a busy day with potential record-breaking temperatures.
Carlos Cabrera with the DPS Roadside Assistance Unit says manpower on high-heat days is almost 100 percent. The DPS Roadside Assistance Unit patrols the freeways to make sure no one is broken down on the side of the road. Each truck carries the tools necessary to help stranded drivers.
Cabrera says they also use their Roadside Assistance Unit to help troopers in the extreme heat.
"Thing that we carry for them is water," said Cabrera. We also carry tire repair kits in case they have a flat tire. We also have the ability to give them a little bit of air-conditioning with a hose that they stick in their collar and it keeps them cool when they're at accident scenes."
Cabrera says drivers should avoid driving during peak hours if they can.
If you break down on a highway, you should:
- Call 911 and let DPS know where you are stranded on the highway
- Call 911 if someone is stopped/stranded on the highway and tell DPS where they are
- Drive completely off of the highway when possible
- Drive to an emergency lane or dirt shoulder when possible
- Not leave your vehicle on the highway – Call 911 to report
- Not walk along the highway – Call 911 to report
- Not stop in the middle of a gore point or gore area
- Not stop within a traffic lane
