Quick Answer: Pull as far right as you can, turn on your hazards immediately, and get out of the car on the passenger side if you're stopped in traffic. Call 911 if you're in a dangerous spot, or *#999 on your cell to reach Illinois State Police dispatch. If you need a tow, call your insurance roadside line or a local tow service. Stay behind the guardrail, not next to your car.
What Do I Do the Second My Car Breaks Down on a Chicago Expressway?
Get off the travel lane. That is the only thing that matters in the first 30 seconds. Steer toward the right shoulder while you still have momentum, even if something is grinding or a tire is flat. A damaged wheel is replaceable. Getting rear-ended on the Dan Ryan at rush hour is a different problem entirely.
Once stopped:
- Hazard lights on before anything else.
- If you have road flares or a reflective triangle, place them 100 to 200 feet behind your car. On a high-speed expressway like I-90/94 or the Eisenhower (I-290), farther is better.
- Exit the car from the passenger side, away from traffic. Move past the guardrail if one is present.
- Do not stand between your car and moving traffic. Ever.
- Call for help from behind the barrier, not from the driver's door.
If you broke down in a dangerous spot, like the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) near the merge at I-190, or on the elevated section of the Kennedy approaching the Circle interchange (I-90/94 and I-290), call 911 first. Give them your exact location, the expressway name, your direction of travel, and the nearest mile marker or exit sign you can see.
Is It Safe to Stay in My Car or Should I Get Out?
Get out, unless staying in is safer because of traffic conditions around you. On Chicago expressways, a stopped car on the shoulder is a rear-end target, especially on the inbound Dan Ryan (I-94) during morning rush or the outbound Eisenhower on a Friday afternoon. Illinois law does not require you to exit, but staying inside a car on a busy shoulder puts you at serious risk if another driver drifts over.
The exception: if there is no barrier or guardrail and you are on a narrow shoulder with nowhere to go, staying buckled in the passenger seat is the lesser risk. Keep your seatbelt on, crouch low in the seat, and wait for a state police unit or IDOT truck.
IDOT operates Emergency Traffic Patrols (ETP) on most Chicago-area expressways. These are yellow trucks that drive the expressways specifically to assist disabled vehicles. If you see one, wave them down. They can push your car to a safe location, provide a small fuel amount if you're out of gas, and help you call a tow.
Who Do I Call to Get Towed Off a Chicago Expressway?
Call your insurance roadside assistance line first, it is usually the cheapest option if you have the coverage. If you carry AAA, call them directly. If you have no roadside coverage, you will need to call a private tow company and pay out of pocket.
A standard tow from a Chicago expressway to a shop runs roughly $75 to $150 for the hook-up fee plus a per-mile rate. Expressway tows sometimes cost more because of the complexity of the pickup location. For a full breakdown of what to expect, see towing cost in Chicago Illinois per mile rate before you agree to a price.
If it is a weekend, rates can be higher. Check towing cost in Chicago Illinois weekend rate so you know what is reasonable before the truck arrives.
Do not use a tow service that shows up unsolicited without you calling them. On major Chicago expressways, predatory tow operators sometimes follow police scanners. You are not required to use any tow truck that shows up uninvited.
What If My Car Is Smoking, Overhea
Photo: Pexels
ting, or Leaking Fluid on the Expressway?
Stop driving immediately if you see smoke from the hood, the temperature gauge is pegged, or you smell burning coolant. Driving an overheating engine even a half mile further on the Kennedy can turn a $300 repair into a $4,000 blown head gasket.
Once stopped on the shoulder, turn the engine off. Do not open the hood if steam is venting from it. Let the car sit for at least 15 to 20 minutes before you touch the coolant cap. A pressurized coolant system at 220+ degrees will spray scalding fluid if you open it hot.
For more on that decision, car overheating on highway: should I pull over now covers the symptoms and when driving further is never the right call.
A smoking or leaking car needs a flatbed on most modern vehicles, not a wheel-lift. If you're not sure which type of tow you need, how do I know if my car needs a flatbed tow will sort that out for you.
What Happens If I Just Leave My Car on the Shoulder and Come Back Later?
IDOT will tag it, and then tow it. On Chicago expressways, an abandoned vehicle can be cited and towed by the city or IDOT contractors in as little as one to two hours during peak traffic periods. At the Circle interchange or on the Dan Ryan near the 95th Street exit, where shoulder space is limited and traffic volume is extreme, it can happen faster.
You will owe the tow fee plus daily storage fees at an impound lot, and those add up quickly. Do not walk away from the car thinking you will deal with it later. Get the tow arranged before you leave the scene.
Photo: Pexels
Common Questions
Q: Can I drive slowly on the shoulder to the next exit if my car is still moving?
A: Only if the car is safe to move and the shoulder is clear. On most Chicago expressways, driving on the shoulder is illegal except in a declared emergency. If your car is rolling and you can make the next exit safely without the situation getting worse, that is usually the better call. If the car is making metal-on-metal sounds or the wheel is pulling hard, stop where you are.
Q: How long will it take for a tow truck to reach me on a Chicago expressway?
A: Figure 30 to 60 minutes during normal conditions, longer during rush hour or bad weather. If IDOT's Emergency Traffic Patrol finds you first, they can keep you safe until your tow arrives. For more context on realistic wait times, see how long can you wait for a tow truck on the side of the road.
Q: Does Illinois have a free tow program on expressways?
A: IDOT's Emergency Traffic Patrol provides free assistance, including small fuel amounts and a push to a safe spot, but they do not tow your car to a shop for free. You still need to arrange a paid tow to get the vehicle off the expressway to a repair facility.
Q: What if I break down in the express lanes on the Kennedy or the Dan Ryan?
A: The express lanes are the worst place to break down because there is no shoulder. Turn on your hazards, put the car in park, and call 911 immediately. Do not try to walk out of the express lanes. State police will respond and manage traffic while a tow is arranged.
Q: Will my car insurance cover the tow cost from the expressway?
A: Only if you have roadside assistance or comprehensive coverage with a towing benefit. Liability-only policies do not cover towing. Call your insurer before you call a tow company to confirm what they will pay, because authorization after the fact is harder to get reimbursed.
Need roadside help? Visit Tow With The Flow for real answers when your car breaks down.
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