Being stranded in a broken-down car can be a harrowing and dangerous experience as cars wiz by you on a busy highway. Emergency Response Technicians at the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration ensure distressed drivers can get to safety as soon as possible.
Earl Addison, Jr. is one of those angels. “I really like helping other people,” Addison said . “This line of work gives me the opportunity to assist/help in many ways other than just directions, fuel and tire changes.”
Empty gas tanks and flat tires are among the most common issues the team encounters during its average of 110 daily responses acrossMaryland. Yet, the group of 55 technicians, supervisors and managers consistently finds creative solutions when challenges arise.
The Emergency Response Technicians take swift, appropriate action to restore normal traffic flow during incidents. (Christopher Berinato/MDOT)
Team members operate specialized towing equipment to quickly remove disabled vehicles or debris obstructing traffic on state highways. They take swift, appropriate action to restore normal traffic flow during incidents. These technicians play a vital role in public safety – and often help save lives. Their work and dedication complements the Serious About Safety initiative, a department-wide focus to drive the Maryland Department of Transportation’s safety goals and help save lives.
Addison recalled one incident that stood out: Early on a Wednesday morning in July 2021, he was dispatched to assist a man stranded on the shoulder along the Capital Beltway. “He mentioned that he tried to contact a tow, and the [estimated time of arrival] of the tow would be close to 4 hours,” said Addison. Addison quickly determined that the problem was a slipped drive belt.
“I was able to put the drive belt back on the vehicle and that allowed him to drive the vehicle to a safe location off of the highway to get it replaced,” he said.
The team of Emergency Response Technicians at the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration take swift, appropriate action to restore normal traffic flow during incidents. These technicians play a vital role in public safety.
The workload is fairly steady year-round, but it typically picks up during the summer travel season, according to State Highway officials. Increased traffic during the summer also raises the risk for road workers – a key reason why Addison emphasizes the importance of moving over when drivers see a vehicle stopped on the side of the road (it’s the law).
“Please try to remember that we put our lives on the line every day to help keep everyone safe, that is why it is important that try to keep us safe when you are approaching any vehicle showing signs of distress,” said Addison.
The Emergency Response Technicians at the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration operate specialized towing equipment to quickly remove disabled vehicles or debris obstructing traffic on state highways. (Christopher Berinato/MDOT)
Christopher Berinato is a digital media manager at the Maryland Department of Transportation.