Interesting Tow Vehicle

[steppinthrax]

I was driving in a tunnel a few weeks ago. I saw this vehicle outfitted with a huge rubber bumper. The tow vehicle was simply pushing the rear of a small car while the driver was steering. The rubber bumper looks like it had some sort of hydraulic mech on it so it could be adjusted. It was also rounded. It looks like it belonged to the State (gov vehicle). As soon as I left the tunnel the tow driver pushed the car into the shoulder and left.

 

[thomsbrain]

That's why cop cars have push bars. Smart to have a dedicated truck for the task at a tunnel.

 

[marvdmartian]

When I was stationed in the San Francisco area, back in the 80's, the state highway department had one of these ready for anyone who broke down in the tunnels between Oakland and Alameda. They had emergency phones set up like every 50 yards, so if you broke down, you'd walk to the nearest phone, pick it up, the dispatcher would answer, you'd tell them which side of the tunnel you were on (basically, east or west) and what you were driving, then go back and wait in your vehicle. Within a few minutes, there would be the pusher truck. And they did exactly as you described....push you out, then over onto the shoulder, where you could get a tow truck to get your vehicle.

This accomplished two things:
1. kept the tunnels clear, so the tow truck didn't have to negotiate through to get you, and you didn't tie up one of the two lanes (in each direction) with a broken down vehicle, and,
2. it lightened the driver's wallet to the tune of $60. Mind you, this was 30-35 years ago. It might have gone up since then!