Editing Highway Emergency Response Operators (section)

== Georgia ==
The state of Georgia operates the HERO program as part of GDOT's Office of [[Traffic]] Operations. The HERO unit's primary purpose is to minimize [[traffic congestion]] by clearing wrecked or disabled vehicles from the travel [[lane]]s and providing traffic control at incident scenes.  As a secondary service, HERO operates as a service patrol; assisting stranded motorists who have a flat tire, are out of fuel, or are stranded by a mechanical failure of their vehicle.  In addition to their normal patrol duties in metro Atlanta, HERO is deployed to assist with traffic control at the [[Masters Tournament]] in Augusta, Georgia and along Interstates 16, 75, and 95 during hurricane evacuations.

HERO Operators are GDOT employees, distinguishing the program from freeway service patrols in other states, such as [[California]], which are operated under contract by private [[tow truck]] companies.  The HERO day is split into four shifts: Alpha (morning), Bravo (afternoon), Charlie (weekend) and Delta (overnight). HERO operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Typically, HERO and CHAMP Operators work between 75,000 and 80,000 incidents per year. 

In Georgia, motorists needing HERO or CHAMP assistance dial 511 (and press 1) to reach the Traffic Management Center, GDOT's primary center for incident management. 511 is also the number for general traffic information throughout the state of Georgia.

=== Expansion ===
Under Georgia Governor [[Sonny Perdue]]'s Fast Forward Congestion Relief program, the HERO program was expanded.  Before the 2005 expansion, the HERO program consisted of 48 operators; in May 2009 there were nearly 90 positions in the program, 2015 there were 110 operators.  This expansion as well as several others since added new routes to the HERO coverage area.
As of 2015, GDOT's fleet of 90 HERO trucks cover over 420 miles of roads.

=== Towing and Recovery Incentive Program (TRIP) ===
The HERO units also oversee the TRIP program which now requires an accident to be cleared enough to have traffic significantly improved in 90 minutes from the time that the towing company arrives on scene and is given notice to proceed. (must be on scene in 30 (peak) to 45 (non-peak) minutes or less)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Traffic Control Concepts for Incident Clearance: 2.0 Laws/Policies - FHWA Office of Operations |url=https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop08057/20.htm}}</ref>  Most towing companies pass this requirement because of assistance from GDOT in getting to the scene. Towing companies in the TRIP program must meet a minimum set of standards and pass inspections by GDOT.  The approved equipment is issued a TRIP certification sticker.