The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is committed to making travel safer for our customers and empowering them to stay informed.
Anyone with a cellular phone traveling the Turnpike can dial *11 (or 1-800-332-3880) to report crashes, incidents or phone for emergency assistance. Calls go directly to the PA Turnpike's Operations Center in Middletown, Pennsylvania, where PA Turnpike radio operators and State Police are on duty 24 hours a day, everyday. The Center dispatches appropriate emergency personnel to the scene. The *11 (and the 1-800-332-3880) number serves the entire PA Turnpike system.
We partner with 511PA to help keep travelers safe. 511PA is a statewide travel information service that helps reduce congestion and improve safety on Pennsylvania roadways. It provides reliable traffic, construction, weather, and transit information to travelers.
While we work to make roadways safer, we empower PA Turnpike travelers to be informed and prepared in the case of an emergency while traveling.
We want the turnpike to be a safe place. If you happen to get in a crash:
It's important to follow proper procedure if your vehicle breaks down:
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has authorized service providers under contract to provide towing and emergency road service to motorists on the PA Turnpike 24 hours every day. The authorized service providers respond to all dispatches and usually arrive at the scene of a disabled vehicle within 45 minutes. View pricing information and learn more about these services.
While we work to make roadways safer, we empower PA Turnpike travelers to be informed and prepared in the case of an emergency while traveling.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission operates a Traffic Operations Center (TOC), located in Middletown that serves customers 24/7 365 days a year. Serving as the hub for all communications, the TOC continuously monitors activities across all Turnpike roadways via an extensive radio system. Roadway conditions, construction status and weather conditions are all monitored at the TOC. The TOC also serves as the center for all PA Turnpike Incident Management activities.
The GEICO Safety Patrol provides First Responder services to drivers on the PA Turnpike 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Safety Patrol:
Placing a yellow dot in your vehicle's rear window helps you receive the critical medical attention you need if you are not able to communicate after an accident.
Download our guide to customer safety for helpful safety information about maintenance and construction zones. Keep preparedness in mind for winter travel with our 10 Musts for Winter Driving.
The maximum speed limit on most sections of the Pennsylvania Turnpike is 70 MPH. A map of the speed limits on the PA Turnpike is located here.
Please remember, while 70 MPH (or any posted speed limit) is the maximum speed; you should drive at lower speeds during adverse traffic, weather, or roadway conditions.
Pennsylvania state law requires headlight use whenever windshield wipers are on. This allows your fellow motorists to best see you during adverse conditions.
State law requires that you drive in the right hand lane, and use the left lane for passing only.
Once you have passed the vehicle in front of you, you should move back into the right lane for standard driving.
When a roadway has two or more lanes, vehicles must be driven in the right hand lanes when available except when any of the following conditions exist:
The ‘Move Over’ law requires drivers to move over or slow down when they encounter an emergency scene, traffic stop or disabled vehicle.
You must move over for emergency responders, as well as PA Turnpike maintenance vehicles and tow trucks when they are responding to an emergency.
Safety measures taken by the PA Turnpike include lowering speed limits in work zones. The maximum speed limit in an active work zone is 55 MPH (40 MPH at Tunnel crossover locations). The Pennsylvania State Police enforces speed limits in PA Turnpike work zones. If motorists are caught exceeding the speed limit in work zones, not only will fines be assessed, but points will also go against their driver’s license.
Motorists should be aware of all signage along the PA Turnpike, preparing them for work zones ahead of their travels. These signs include digital message boards along the roadway, as well as posted signs along the shoulder. These signs provide awareness to drivers approaching work zones, allowing them time to slow down as they approach these areas and see workers along the roadway. One way to support our roadway team is to Go Orange to keep our workers safe in these work zones. Follow the posted speed limits, keep your eyes up and your phone down.
Follow the Signs: Save Lives Today Click here to watch a short video about mobile work zone signs and how they protect drivers and workers.
Work Zone Speed Safety Cameras (WZSSC) are used on the PA Turnpike to reduce work zone speeds, change driver behavior, and improve work zone safety for workers and motorists. Cameras are located in various work zones to detect and record vehicles exceeding work zone posted speed limits by 11 miles per hour (mph) or more. This program was started in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). For more information on the Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program, including a list of projects where the units are deployed, visit WorkZoneCameras.PennDOT.gov.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike) have joined forces to develop a New Driver Work Zone Safety Program to teach new drivers how to navigate in work zones with confidence and safety.
The free, 35-minute virtual training program equips participants with the knowledge they need to drive safely through work zones in Pennsylvania.
It covers safe driving practices in work zones, simulates real-life scenarios drivers might encounter, and explains work zone laws.
Work zones can be hazardous for both drivers and workers, but by understanding our state's work zone laws, we can prepare Pennsylvanians to safely navigate the road ahead.
For more information about the program and to participate in the course, click here.
The PA Turnpike offers a real-time text messaging service to keep travelers informed during unexpected traffic delays. Available 24/7 and designed exclusively for PA Turnpike customers, this service provides live updates on incidents, estimated clearance times and roadway conditions.
To get started, simply text “info” to 47676 when safe to do so using hands-free technology or through a passenger in your vehicle. After confirming your location through quick prompts, you’ll receive automated updates every 15 to 20 minutes until the backlog clears. Once cleared, the updates stop automatically. To receive alerts for a new incident, just text “info” to 47676 again.
For more information on 47676 click here.
