If your car breaks down on an Atlanta interstate, turn on your hazard lights, steer as far right onto the shoulder as you can, preferably beyond the white line and off the pavement, and stay buckled in the vehicle unless it is unsafe to remain there. Call 911 if you are in a dangerous spot, if anyone is hurt or if the car is stopped in a travel lane. On metro Atlanta freeways, the Georgia Department of Transportation's HERO units patrol to clear incidents and give free basic help such as changing a tire, jump-starting a battery or providing fuel. Never stand behind or beside your car in traffic, and do not try a repair in a travel lane.
The first two minutes
- Signal and move right. As soon as you sense trouble, such as a warning light, loss of power, a flat tire or steam, put on your hazards and work toward the right shoulder. The right side is usually safer than the median, though on some stretches the left shoulder is wider.
- Use momentum. If the engine has died, you may still be able to coast. Keep steering and brake gently; power steering and brake assist may be reduced.
- Get as far off as possible. Every foot between your car and the travel lane matters. An exit ramp or wide gore area is better than a narrow shoulder if you can reach it.
- Turn your wheels away from traffic and set the parking brake.
- Stay buckled in with the hazards on, unless you smell fuel, see smoke or fire, or the car is in a spot where it is likely to be hit. In that case, exit on the side away from traffic and move behind a guardrail or well up the embankment.
Getting help
| Situation | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Injury, fire, car stopped in a travel lane, or any immediate danger | 911 |
| Flat tire, dead battery, out of fuel on a metro Atlanta freeway | A GDOT HERO unit on patrol may stop to help; otherwise use your roadside assistance plan |
| Car needs towing or a mechanic | Your roadside assistance plan, insurer, automaker program or a towing company |
| Traffic conditions and incidents | Georgia's 511 traveler information service at 511ga.org |
Before you need it, check whether you already have roadside assistance. Many auto insurance policies offer it as an add-on, new vehicles often include it for a period, and some credit cards and phone plans provide it.
What HERO units do
The Highway Emergency Response Operators program, run by the Georgia Department of Transportation, patrols metro Atlanta's interstates. Its primary job is to clear incidents so traffic can move again. Operators also help stranded drivers free of charge: changing flat tires, jump-starting batteries, providing a little fuel or coolant, pushing vehicles out of travel lanes, moving motorists to a safer place, giving first aid and making minor mechanical repairs. GDOT reported 382 miles of metro Atlanta freeway patrolled on 32 monitored routes for fiscal year 2025, and it states there is no charge for the service. Outside metro Atlanta, a separate GDOT program called CHAMP covers most of the state's interstates. HERO help is a safety service, not a repair service; a car that needs real work will still need a tow or a mechanic.
Georgia laws that apply
Moving your car after a minor crash
Georgia law, O.C.G.A. 40-6-275, expects drivers involved in a crash without serious injury to move their vehicles out of the travel lanes when the vehicles can be driven safely. Stopping in a live lane to exchange information or wait for police creates a second hazard. Move to the shoulder or an exit, then report the crash.
The Move Over Law
Under Georgia's Move Over Law, O.C.G.A. 40-6-16, drivers approaching a stopped emergency vehicle, HERO unit, tow truck, utility vehicle or transportation department vehicle with flashing lights must move out of the adjacent lane when it is safe. If moving over is not possible, drivers must slow below the posted speed limit and be prepared to stop. When you are stranded and help arrives, the flashing lights behind you are there partly to make other drivers follow this rule.
What to keep in the car
- Phone charger or power bank
- Portable jump pack or good jumper cables
- Reflective triangles or flares, used only if it is safe to place them
- Flashlight and spare batteries
- Water, especially in summer heat
- Tire pressure gauge and, if your car has one, a working spare and jack
- Basic first-aid kit
- Reflective vest
- A note of your roadside assistance number and policy details
Common causes of highway breakdowns
| Problem | Typical warning signs | Related guide |
|---|---|---|
| Overheating | Rising temperature gauge, steam, sweet smell | What to do when your car overheats |
| Charging system failure | Battery light, dimming lights, electrical glitches | Alternator or starter problems |
| Flat or blown tire | Pulling, vibration, tire pressure warning | Check pressure monthly |
| Running out of fuel | Low fuel warning ignored in traffic | Refuel before long jams |
| Transmission failure | Slipping, harsh shifts, warning light | Transmission warning signs |
Many of these give warnings before they leave you stranded. Acting on a battery light or a climbing temperature gauge before getting on I-285 or the Downtown Connector is far easier than dealing with it on the shoulder.
Changing a tire on the shoulder
Only change a tire if the car is well clear of traffic, on level ground, and the flat is on the side away from the lanes. If the flat is on the traffic side, or the shoulder is narrow, wait for help or drive slowly on the flat to a safer spot such as an exit, accepting that the tire and possibly the wheel will be ruined. A wheel is cheaper than a life.
After the tow
Once the car is somewhere safe, you can decide where it will be repaired. Some repairs can be done at home by a mobile technician, as explained in mobile mechanic versus repair shop. Ask the tow operator for the total price before the tow, and get a receipt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I stay in my car after breaking down on the interstate?
Usually yes, buckled in with hazards on, if the car is well off the road. Get out on the side away from traffic and move behind a barrier if there is fire, smoke, a fuel smell or a real risk of being hit.
Is GDOT HERO assistance free?
Yes. HERO operators provide free basic help on metro Atlanta freeways, such as changing tires, jump-starting batteries and providing a small amount of fuel. Towing and major repairs are not among the services GDOT lists for HERO.
Do I have to move my car after a minor accident in Georgia?
Georgia law expects drivers in crashes without serious injury to move their vehicles out of the travel lanes when the vehicles can be driven safely. Move to the shoulder or an exit, then report the crash.
What does Georgia's Move Over Law require?
Drivers must move out of the lane next to a stopped emergency vehicle, HERO unit, tow truck, utility or transportation vehicle with flashing lights when safe. If they cannot, they must slow below the speed limit and be prepared to stop.
When should I call 911 for a breakdown?
Call 911 if anyone is injured, the car is stopped in a travel lane, there is smoke or fire, or you are in any immediate danger. For a routine breakdown safely on the shoulder, use your roadside assistance plan or a towing service.