NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) – The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and some local cities have courtesy patrols that offer roadside assistance to drivers and the North Texas heat is keeping those workers busy.

Courtesy Patrol worker Daisy Crockett said she has seen, “A lot of flat tires and a lot of overheated engines.”

With triple-digit heat bearing down motorists are facing a number of problems. Extreme heat is much harder on a battery than extreme cold and that means a lot of local drivers are being left stranded.

According to experts with Interstate All Battery, an outside temperature over 90-degrees may create temperatures as high as 150-degrees under the hood of a car.

So, what should you do if you’re stuck in a traffic jam?

“If you’re not moving just turn your engine off and kinda let it cool down a little bit,” Crockett suggested. “Then wait for a little bit and then just turn it back on and see if you can get out of the lanes of traffic to the right shoulder.”

A driver experiencing vehicle problems can impact hundreds, even thousands, of others since traffic can back up quickly behind a stalled vehicle.

Courtesy patrol worker Pablo Machuka said the backups cause problems for them too. “Sometimes it’s also hard for us because of the traffic. It takes a little while,” he said.

Experts suggests not only having your battery and electrical system checked every three to six months, but also having a quality spare tire and keeping an eye on your water levels.

Both Crockett and Machuka said paying a mechanic a little now, to look over your vehicle, can save a lot of money and frustration down the road.

The phone number for Texas Roadside Assistance, (800) 525-5555, is listed on the back of every Texas driver’s license and is also on the back of your state inspection sticker.

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