When your car breaks down on a freeway, get it as far onto the right shoulder as you can, turn on the hazard lights, and decide quickly whether it is safer to stay belted inside or to wait well away from the car. Then call for help with your exact location. The most dangerous moments are not the breakdown itself but the minutes afterward, when passing traffic is a few feet away.
The main freeways through Fresno and Clovis carry fast commuter and truck traffic, and the Valley adds its own hazards: summer heat above 100 degrees, dense winter fog, and long stretches with little shade.
The first ten minutes, in order
- Signal and steer to the right. As soon as the engine falters, put your turn signal on and coast to the right shoulder, as far from the lane as possible. Avoid stopping on a bridge, in a curve, or at the crest of a hill if you can roll a bit farther.
- Turn on the hazard lights. Leave them on. If you have a safety triangle, place it only if you can do so well away from the lane and the shoulder is wide enough.
- Turn your wheels away from the road, toward the right, so that if the car is struck it rolls away from the lanes.
- Note your location. Look for the highway number and direction, the nearest exit number or cross street, and any roadside marker you can see. You will need it for every call.
- Call 911 if you are in danger or blocking a lane. Depending on where you are, a cell call may be answered by the California Highway Patrol or by a local dispatch center; either way, lead with the highway, direction and nearest exit.
- Decide where to wait. See the next section.
- Ask for help. That means the Freeway Service Patrol if it is running, a roadside plan, or a tow operator you choose.
Inside the car or outside?
Advice depends on the shoulder. On a narrow shoulder, in dense fog, or in the dark, staying buckled in with the hazards flashing is often safer than standing beside fast traffic. On a wide shoulder with a barrier, exit on the side away from the traffic and wait well behind the guardrail or at the far edge of the shoulder, with everyone out of the car. Never stand between the vehicle and the lane, and never try to change a flat or inspect an engine with cars passing within a few feet.
California's Move Over law, Vehicle Code section 21809, was widened on January 1, 2026. It now covers not only tow trucks, emergency vehicles and highway crews but any stopped vehicle showing hazard lights or warning devices such as flares, cones or reflective triangles. Approaching drivers must change lanes away from it when they safely can, or slow to a reasonable and prudent speed. That is one more reason to switch the hazards on at once, but you cannot count on every motorist to obey the law.
The free help on local freeways
Fresno COG, the region's council of governments, lists a Freeway Service Patrol on Highways 41, 99, 168 and 180 through the Fresno and Clovis area. Its page lists service during weekday peak hours of 7 to 9 a.m. and 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., and describes the service as free, with on-the-spot fixes or towing. You can read it at Fresno COG.
The CHP describes what the patrol does: a gallon of gas, a jump start, a radiator refill and hose repair with tape, and a flat tire change. If the car cannot be restarted, it is towed free to a designated drop spot approved by the CHP. The patrol cannot tow a vehicle to a private repair shop or residence, does not tow motorcycles, and does not assist vehicles involved in accidents unless the CHP directs it. Details are on the CHP Freeway Service Patrol page.
Common freeway problems and what to do
| Problem | Do | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Flat or blown tire | Slow gradually, steer to the shoulder, call for help if the shoulder is narrow | Braking hard or changing the tire near the lane |
| Overheating engine | Pull off, shut the engine off, and let it cool before touching anything under the hood | Opening a hot radiator cap |
| Out of fuel | Hazards on, call a plan, the patrol or a delivery service | Walking along the freeway to a gas station |
| Dead battery | Wait for a jump or tow; see the jump-start guide | Accepting a jump from a stranger standing near traffic |
| Smoke or fire | Pull over, get everyone out, move far upwind and call 911 | Opening the hood or fighting a growing fire |
Tule fog and low visibility
Tule fog is a dense ground fog that forms in the Central Valley after rain or on clear, calm, moist nights, mostly from late autumn through winter. Visibility can fall to a fraction of a mile, and the National Weather Service in Hanford issues dense fog advisories for Fresno and neighboring counties. In fog the dangerous breakdown is the one that stops partly in a lane, because drivers behind may not see you until too late.
- Use low beams, not high beams, which reflect off the fog.
- Slow down enough to stop within the distance you can actually see.
- If you must stop, get as far off the road as the shoulder allows, keep hazards flashing and stay well away from the traveled lanes.
- If you can safely postpone a trip until the fog lifts, particularly around dawn, do so.
Summer heat on the shoulder
On a 100-degree afternoon, the shoulder has no shade and the pavement radiates heat. Carry water in the car, keep children and pets with you in the shade of a safe location rather than shut inside a hot vehicle, and call early. A waiting time that is annoying in spring can be dangerous in July. Check tire pressure and coolant before long summer drives. If you do not already have a plan for situations like this, the roadside plan comparison shows what to look for.
Be careful about who stops
If a tow truck you did not call stops beside you, do not hand over keys or sign anything; California law restricts operators from stopping to solicit work, as the guide to choosing a tow company explains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I call if I break down on Highway 99?
Call 911 if you are in danger or blocking a lane, and give the highway, direction and nearest exit. For a non-emergency breakdown, use your roadside plan, the Freeway Service Patrol if it is running, or a tow operator you choose.
When does the Freeway Service Patrol run in Fresno?
Fresno COG lists weekday peak hours of 7 to 9 a.m. and 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the main freeways through Fresno and Clovis. Confirm current hours with Fresno COG or the CHP.
Should I stay in my car or get out?
It depends on the shoulder, the traffic and the visibility. On a narrow shoulder or in fog, staying belted in with hazards on can be safer. On a wide shoulder with a barrier, exit on the side away from traffic and wait behind the guardrail, well away from the car and the traffic.
Will the patrol tow me to my mechanic?
No. The Freeway Service Patrol tows free of charge only to a designated drop spot approved by the CHP, not to a private repair shop or residence. From there you can arrange further help.
What is California's Move Over law?
Vehicle Code section 21809 requires drivers approaching a stopped emergency vehicle, tow truck or highway crew to change lanes away from it when safe, or slow to a reasonable and prudent speed. Since January 1, 2026, it also applies to any stopped vehicle showing hazard lights or warning devices such as flares or cones.