South County : CHP to Discourage Parking Along Freeway

In an effort to curb an increasing number of accidents caused by drivers stopping on the shoulder of Interstate 5 in the south county, California Highway Patrol officers will be on the lookout for cars parking along the freeway for non-emergencies, CHP Capt. Steve Malone said.

Officers may cite drivers who create a hazard by stopping on the shoulder. Malone said that 2.7% of all accidents in the county are caused by drivers stopping their vehicles on freeway shoulders and that the most common reasons for stopping are to change drivers, read maps or take naps.

“It’s a type of accident we’ve identified and can have some immediate impact on,” Malone said.

Officers usually do not cite unattended cars but issue a yellow slip to warn the owner that the car could be towed within four hours. Malone said the officers will deal with each situation on an individual basis. “Our main objective is to prevent accidents,” he said.