Highway Emergency Response Operators
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The Highway Emergency Response Operators program is a freeway service patrol operated in metro Atlanta 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 apronym HERO. The program began in Atlanta prior to the 1996 Summer Olympic Games and has since been expanded in association with GDOT's Georgia Navigator Intelligent transportation system program.
HERO's purpose is to minimize traffic congestion by clearing damaged or disabled vehicles from the roadway lanes or hard shoulder and directing traffic at any incident. HERO thus places somewhat less emphasis on assisting motorists than other freeway service patrols, such as West Virginia's Courtesy Patrol.
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.
Links
HERO Website (http://www.dot.state.ga.us/dot/operations/trafficops/HERO/index.shtml)