Emergency & Roadside Assistance
The Thruway Authority is firmly committed to providing a high level of safety and service. This can only be achieved through a sound and well-maintained infrastructure of highways and bridges.
As a result of innovative and continuous safety improvements, and a dedicated State Police Troop, the Thruway has continuously been recognized as one of the safest superhighways in the nation.
A primary measure of safety is the fatality rate, which is calculated as the number of fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles (MVM) traveled. In 2024, there were 20 crashes resulting in 21 fatalities, reflecting a fatality rate of 0.22.
The fatality rate along the Thruway remains significantly below the 2024 national average of 1.2 fatalities per 100 Million vehicle miles (MVM) traveled as calculated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
For emergencies on the Thruway please call 911.
We invite you to take a brief survey to share your opinions about the New York State Thruway Authorized Towing Program. Your answers will help us to evaluate the efficiency of the program and help to identify any improvements that may be made to enhance the Towing Program.
Emergency Services
Disabled Vehicle
Disabled vehicles should not stop in the travel lanes. If possible, move well off the roadway, or to the next exit or another safe location. New York State law permits motorists to move vehicles to a safe spot following an accident or breakdown. Tie a white cloth to the left door handle or radio antennae and wait for help to arrive. For your own safety, stay with your vehicle.
Roadside Service
For the safety of all Thruway travelers, only authorized Thruway garages are allowed to service disabled vehicles on the Thruway for minor repairs. Thruway fuel stations no longer offer this roadside service. Minor repairs include tire changes, battery boosts, and supplying fuel. To contact a garage closest to you call 1-800-842-2233.
In the event of an accident or breakdown:
- Do not stop in the travel lanes. If possible, move well off the roadway or to the next exit, or nearest safe location.
- New York State law permits motorists to move vehicles to a safe spot following an accident.
- Activate emergency flashers.
- Place flares or reflectors on the shoulder to alert oncoming motorists of your situation.
- Do not walk along the Thruway.
- Stay with your vehicle and wait for help to arrive.
- If you make your own repairs, keep yourself, tools and parts well off the travel lane.
Major Repairs
Authorized off-Thruway garages handle towing and major repairs that cannot be done along the Thruway. The garages also provide both roadside and major repairs on the Niagara, New England and Berkshire sections and I-287. To contact a garage closest to you call 1-800-842-2233.
Service Charges
A standard roadside service charge prevails 24 hours a day on the Thruway. Labor and materials are additional. These rates are comparable to off-Thruway rates. For more information, please call 518-436-3079.
Towing
Charges by authorized garages for towing are based on initial hook-up and subsequent miles towed and are competitive with off-Thruway prices. For more information, please call 518-436-3079.
Towing Rates
Forms
Emergency Detour Routes
The Thruway Authority's highest priority is the safety of the motorists traveling on its highways. In collaboration with state and local partners the Thruway Authority developed contingency plans and detour routes for the entire Thruway system that can be used during extreme weather events and/or other incidents.
These detour routes take into account the effect of the detoured traffic on state and local roadways. This may require the actual detour to begin far ahead of the impacted section of roadway, so that truck traffic can either safely continue travel or find a safe place to wait out the weather. The Thruway Authority's goal is to quickly direct traffic to an alternate route when road conditions necessitate it.