Georgia Department of Transportation s1

Incident Management Unit H.E.R.O. Standard Operating Procedures

I. POLICY:

To help provide for the safety of stranded motorists, whether from accidents or disabled vehicles, the HERO Unit will provide transport to a place of refuge.

II. PROCEDURE:

A. Transporting Motorists.

1. Members may, when necessary, transport stranded motorists from the highways to a safe location.

a. Such motorist may only be transported to the nearest exit or the place of safety.

1) A “place of safety” is considered to be a business, or any other location accessible to the public where the citizen can wait for private assistance.

2) Such location must be within one-half (1/2) of a mile from the freeway, unless a greater distance is authorized by a supervisor.

3) Operators may not transport a motorist to a repair facility or tire store and wait to transport the motorist back to their vehicle unless permitted to do so by a supervisor.

4) Employees may not transport a citizen to their residence unless authorized by a supervisor or manager.

5) Children or infants may not be transported in a Unit vehicle unless the appropriate restraint system, or booster seat are available.

a) If such equipment is not available the operator may call a taxicab, or other transport, for the citizen (and children) and, with supervisory approval, may wait until such transport arrives. Page 3.3-1

Written by: D. Green Approved by: SOP Committee Date: October 16, 2014 Incident Management Unit H.E.R.O. Standard Operating Procedures

6) All persons transported in Unit vehicles must wear their seatbelt.

2. Prior to transporting any motorist in a Unit vehicle the operator must provide the following to the TMC:

a. Description of the vehicle.

1) Color of the vehicle.

2) Year of vehicle (if known)

3) Make of vehicle.

4) Body style (2-door, 4-door . . .)

5) License number

b. Description of passenger(s

1) Race and gender

2) Description of clothing

c. Initial odometer reading of HERO vehicle.

3. When discharging passenger(s) the following information must be provided to the TMC:

4. Closing odometer reading of HERO vehicle

b. Location where passenger(s) discharged.

4. If, for any reason, a member feels unsafe in transporting any passenger, they are to advise their supervisor immediately and such transport shall

not occur without the presence of the supervisor, a police officer or another HERO unit.

3-2 Written by: D. Green Approved by: SOP Committee Date: October 16, 2014