Rockford at Night: What Helps on the Tollway

If your car dies on I-90 near Rockford after dark, get as far onto the right shoulder as you can, turn on your flashers and stay buckled in your seat. Call 911 if anyone is hurt or you're stuck in a lane. Dial *999 to tell the Tollway where you are. The Tollway's free help trucks stop at 8 p.m. on weekdays and don't run on weekends, so at night you call your own tow.

Which road around Rockford is the tollway?

The Jane Addams Memorial Tollway is I-90. Coming down from Wisconsin, I-90 and I-39 share the same road. The toll part starts at the South Beloit Toll Plaza, past the Rockton and Roscoe area. From there it runs north and south along the east side of Winnebago County.

Between Rockford and Cherry Valley, I-39 splits off to the south. I-90 bends east toward Belvidere and Chicago. The Belvidere Toll Plaza and the Belvidere Oasis sit on that eastbound stretch.

So if you were driving between South Beloit, Rockford and Belvidere on the interstate, you were almost surely on the tollway. That matters at night, because it changes who you call and what help is out there.

Who helps you on the tollway after dark?

The Illinois Tollway runs H.E.L.P. trucks. That stands for Highway Emergency Lane Patrol. Twelve of them cover the whole Tollway system. They can change a tire, boost a battery, move a car out of traffic or call a tow.

Here's the catch. Their hours are Monday to Friday, 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. After 8 on a weeknight, and all weekend, no H.E.L.P. truck is coming. If you die on the shoulder at 11 p.m. on a Saturday, plan on calling a tow yourself.

The road is still watched all night. Illinois State Police Troop 15 patrols the Tollway 24 hours a day. The Tollway's Central Dispatch also works around the clock and answers *999 calls. Calling *999 puts your stalled car on their radar. It does not book a tow for you unless you ask them to.

You can pick any tow company you want. The one exception: if your car blocks a live lane or sits in an unsafe spot, state police can order it towed right away.

What should you do in the first two minutes?

Out on the tollway at night, the only light may be your own headlights and the cars rushing by. Drivers behind you can't see you well. Work fast, in this order:

1. Get right. If the car still moves, steer to the right shoulder. Get as far from the lane as you safely can. If an exit or the oasis is close and the car still rolls, keep going slowly.
2. Flashers on. Leave your parking lights on too, if the battery allows.
3. Stay in. Keep your seat belt on and the doors locked. The Tollway tells drivers to stay in the car if it's safe.
4. Call 911 first if anyone is hurt, the car is in a lane, or you smell smoke or fuel.
5. Find your milepost. Look for the small milepost marker by the shoulder. Read the number out loud when you call.

Don't stand behind or beside the car. Don't wave at traffic. Illinois can bar people on foot from controlled access roads like this one, and at night, a person on the shoulder is very hard to see.

When is getting out the safer move?

If the car is in a lane and won't move, or it's smoking, get out on the side away from traffic. Walk well up and away from the road, behind a guardrail if there is one. Then call 911.

How do you tell someone where you are on I-90?

At night, there are fewer signs you can read and no stores to name. The Tollway asks for three things when you call: the road name, the way you were headed and the closest milepost. Your partner tow driver needs the same.

• Road and direction: "I-90 eastbound toward Belvidere" or "I-90 northbound toward Wisconsin."
• Milepost: the number on the nearest milepost marker.
• Last exit or landmark: the last exit sign you passed, or a toll plaza.
• Your car: color, make and model, so the truck can spot it in the dark.

Can't see a post? Open your phone's map and share your pin. A pin plus a direction is often enough.

Is the Belvidere Oasis a safe place to wait?

It can be. The Belvidere Oasis sits at milepost 24 on I-90, just east of the Belvidere Toll Plaza. The Tollway lists fuel and an ATM there as open 24/7, and a 7-Eleven is on site. It's lit, it has people around, and you can wait inside instead of on a dark shoulder.

If your car is acting up but still drives, say a warning light or a soft tire, getting to the oasis beats stopping on the shoulder. Tell your tow company you're in the oasis lot and which way you were headed. That helps your driver come in from the right side of the road.

Why are deer a bigger risk right now?

October through December is deer season on Illinois roads. IDOT says more than 42 percent of the state's deer crashes happen in those three months. November is the worst. More than 71 percent of deer crashes come at twilight or after dark, and more than 72 percent happen in rural areas.

The tollway around Rockford runs past farm fields and woods. Scan the edges of the road for eye shine. If a deer steps out, IDOT's advice is simple: don't veer. Brake firmly and stay in your lane. A swerve can put you in the ditch or into another car.

If you hit a deer, pull to the shoulder, turn on your hazards and call 911. Don't get out to check on the animal. If the car slid off the road but sits close to the pavement, a winch-out can pull it back. If the radiator or a headlight is smashed, you need a car tow.

What if it's cold and the car won't start?

Rockford gets cold fast once fall turns. NOAA's normals for the Rockford airport show about 136 nights a year at or below freezing, and about 11 at zero or colder. A tired battery often quits on the first hard freeze.

If you stopped at the oasis and the car just clicks, a jump start may be all you need. On the shoulder, keep your coat on and the doors shut. Run the engine for heat only if it runs and your tailpipe isn't blocked by snow.

What do other drivers have to do for your tow truck?

When your partner's truck shows up, it will run amber flashing lights. Illinois law lets tow trucks use them at a breakdown. Under Scott's Law, drivers coming up on a stopped vehicle with those lights must move to a lane that isn't next to it, if they safely can. If they can't, they must slow down.

The penalties are real. If a driver breaks that rule and damages someone's property, they lose their license for 90 days to a year. Still, not everyone obeys it at night. Stay in your seat until your driver tells you it's safe to get out.

What if you have to leave the car on the shoulder?

Sometimes you get a ride and plan to deal with the car in the morning. Be careful. Under Illinois law, police can have a car towed once it's been left on a toll highway for 2 hours or more. If it's a hazard, they can order it moved right away. A police tow then sends it to a lot, and getting it back costs time.

It's usually better to have it towed home or to a shop that night. If you do leave, call the state police line so they know the car isn't abandoned: 630-241-6800, extension 5028. Inside Rockford city limits, the Rockford police non-emergency line is 815-966-2900.

How does Sentinel Towing work at night?

Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. We don't own trucks. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. We text you a locked price before anyone is sent. Then we stay with you by text until help arrives. You get your driver's name, photo and truck, and you can track your truck on a map. Give us one family number, and we text them your location too. That's our Stay-With-You Promise. We're not an emergency service, so call 911 first if anyone is in danger. For more on the city, winters and nearby towns, see our Rockford towing page.

Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.

Rockford Tollway Night Questions

Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: Illinois Tollway roadway safety, Illinois Tollway oases, Scott's Law, 625 ILCS 5/11-907, 625 ILCS 5/4-203, 625 ILCS 5/11-711, IDOT deer safety, City of Rockford FAQ, NOAA Rockford normals.