Because of an increase in traffic along the Florida Turnpike as drivers evacuate South Florida, the Florida Highway Patrol says it is taking extra steps to keep the shoulders clear when vehicles become disabled.
There are extra troopers, road rangers and wreckers in place to assist drivers with broken down cars.
But starting Friday, any vehicle abandoned on the turnpike will be towed. FHP and the Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles tweeted Friday morning that they are receiving reports of people sleeping on the shoulders of major interstates.
The FHP says vehicles left on the side of the road, whether for drivers to rest or for any other reason, slow down emergency vehicles that have to get through.