IOWA, USA — If you've ever been stranded on the side of the road, you know it's not a lot of fun.
But here's a closer look at the new data behind a state program to help drivers in stressful situations: the Highway Helper program from the Iowa Department of Transportation.
According to the Iowa DOT numbers, thousands of drivers have been helped out over the last year from the "Helper."
Almost 800 crashes over a three-year period were near or caused by a stalled or abandoned car on Iowa's roads.
16 people were killed or hurt because of these crashes.
Highway Helper assists drivers with jump starts, tire changes and providing traffic control in four metro areas.
And it's all free.
More than 23,000 incidents involved a stalled vehicle just last year and nearly 1,900 were single-car crashes.
If you find yourself stranded on the side of the road in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, or the Quad Cities, you can call 9-1-1 to have a Highway Helper assist you.