Turnpike Safety

If you are in accident or breakdown

• Pull as far out of the active lanes of traffic as possible.
• STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE and call *11 on a cell phone to alert the PA Turnpike Operations Center to your location and need for assistance.
• Green mile markers are located every .1 miles in the median of the PA Turnpike, pay attention to your location at all times so you can tell the dispatcher where you are in an emergency.
• Under no circumstance should you exit your vehicle on the PA Turnpike when close to or in active lanes of traffic.

Best place to pullover

Wide areas:

• Wide areas are located across the PA Turnpike system and are characterized by a large pull off area divided by a white line. Always pull over to the land side of the white line to ensure your safety.
• Service Plazas: There are 17 service plazas across the PA Turnpike system where you can safely pull out of active travel. Please utilize these stopping locations when possible. You can find the locations of our Service Plazas here.

Exits:

• If closest, consider exiting the roadway completely to pull over. Most exits can be re-entered fairly easily.
• If possible avoid pulling over on the shoulder of the PA Turnpike and concentrate on getting to a wider pull off. If you have to pull onto the standard shoulder, remain in your car; exiting your vehicle in these locations can be dangerous due to high Turnpike speeds.

State Farm Safety Patrol

The State Farm Safety Patrol can be requested by calling *11. The State Farm Safety Patrol utilizes a fleet of dedicated vehicles operated solely by Pennsylvania Turnpike personnel to provide First Responder services to motorists on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The Safety Patrol:

• Responds to accidents/incidents.
• Provides traffic control for scene stabilization.
• Delivers an initial maintenance response (debris clean up, spill control, etc.).
• Communicates with the Turnpike Operations Center (and other responders) regarding the incident and resources needed to respond.
• Patrols the roadway.
• Renders customer assistance.
• State Farm and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission are proud to offer this service to all motorists who travel on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
• State Farm entered into this partnership with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to promote highway safety.

PA State Police (PSP) Troop T

PSP’s Troop T is dedicated to only patrolling the entire Pennsylvania Turnpike. With eight barracks along the entire system, Troop T’s emphasis is on enforcement and safety for all Turnpike motorists.

Yellow Dot Program

• This program assists citizens in the "golden hour" of emergency care following a traffic crash when they may not be able to communicate themselves.
• Putting a Yellow Dot in vehicle's rear window alerts first responders to check glove compartment for vital information on receiving critical medical attention.
• For more information, please visit PennDOT’s Yellow Dot page.