Safe driving and emergencies
Your car runs out of gas on a freeway during the morning commute, in an area covered by the CHP Freeway Service Patrol (FSP). What can FSP do for you?
- Give you a gallon of gas, free of charge. Correct answer
- Tow your car to the repair shop of your choice.
- Nothing, since FSP only helps vehicles involved in a collision.
Why
During commute hours, in certain areas, the CHP Freeway Service Patrol gives free roadside help to drivers stranded on the freeway. Running out of gas is one of the cases it handles: the patrol hands you a gallon. It also jump-starts dead batteries, refills radiators and tapes hoses, changes flat tires and reports collisions to CHP. If your car still will not start, FSP has it towed at no charge to a spot CHP approves, never to a private repair shop or your home, and it does not recommend shops or tow companies. Collisions are mostly outside its job, since it helps a vehicle involved in one only when CHP directs it to. For FSP information and help, dial 511.
Where this comes from
California Driver's Handbook, June 2025 edition. The correct answer is Give you a gallon of gas, free of charge.
The rule behind this one
Safe driving and emergencies in California goes through the whole topic, with the page of the California Driver's Handbook behind every rule.
More on safe driving and emergencies
- Which method does the California Driver's Handbook recommend for keeping a safe following distance behind the vehicle ahead?
- Under California rules, when must you turn on your headlights?
- Your rear wheels begin to skid on an icy road. What should you do first?
- Your vehicle starts to hydroplane on a wet freeway. What should you do?