Tip #44: In a jughandle, tell the dispatcher which side of the highway you are on
New Jersey's jughandles send left-turning traffic off to the right first, so a car that dies in one sits on a ramp beside the highway. Give the highway, the direction you were heading and the cross street, so the truck comes to the right side the first time.
Tip #44 in one line
New Jersey's jughandles send left-turning traffic off to the right first, so a car that dies in one sits on a ramp beside the highway. Give the highway, the direction you were heading and the cross street, so the truck comes to the right side the first time.
Stuck right now? Skip the reading and call.
Call nowWhy jughandles confuse a location
On Route 1 & 9, Route 22 and many other New Jersey divided roads, you cannot turn left from the main lanes. Instead you exit right onto a jughandle ramp that loops you around to the cross street or back across the highway. A car that stalls on that ramp is not on the highway itself, not quite on the cross street, and only reachable from one direction.
Saying I am on Route 1 at Main Street is not enough, because there may be jughandles on both sides of the intersection, one for each direction. A tow truck that arrives on the wrong side of a divided highway may have to travel a mile or more to the next turnaround to reach you.
One call, one flat quote, 24/7.
Call nowWhat to say
Give the highway, the direction you were driving before you entered the jughandle (north, south, east, west), the cross street the jughandle serves, and whether you are on the ramp before the light or after it. Mention a landmark: the gas station, the diner, the store on that corner. If your phone's map shows your position, read out the nearest address or share your location when the dispatcher asks.
One call, one flat quote, 24/7.
Call nowStaying safe on the ramp
Jughandle ramps are narrow and drivers coming around the curve may not see you until late. Turn on the hazards. If there is a curb and grass, and it is safe to step away, stand behind the car and well off the pavement. If traffic is heavy, stay belted in. A car that rolls can often be pushed a few feet onto the grass or into a nearby lot, but only if it is safe to do so.
Many jughandle breakdowns are quick fixes: a jump start, fuel delivery or a tire. If it needs a tow, the price is quoted on the call. Our streets page lists local roads we serve.
A tip for drivers new to New Jersey: the jughandle signs appear before the intersection, often with a sign for all turns or for a specific street. If you miss the turn, do not stop or reverse; continue to the next jughandle or turnaround. Many breakdowns on these roads start as a sudden stop or a bump against the curb while a driver tries to fix a missed turn. Knowing the system takes away most of that stress.
One call, one flat quote, 24/7.
Call nowMore on nj roads
Keep reading, or go back to every post on the blog.
- Tip #41: On Route 1 & 9, Route 22 or I-78, get as far off the road as you can
- Tip #42: Stopped in a live lane on the Pulaski Skyway or a bridge? Call 911 first
- Tip #43: On the Turnpike or Parkway, the shoulder tow is the Authority's garage
- Tip #46: On one-way streets in Newark, Jersey City or Elizabeth, give the block, not just the street
- Tip #47: Learn to read the mileposts and exit numbers before you need them
- Tip #49: Assume passing drivers will not move over, and stand where they cannot hit you
- What to do when your car breaks down in New Jersey
- Flatbed vs wheel-lift towing: which does your car need?
- All posts
Need towing and roadside assistance right now? One call, truck on the way.
Real dispatcher, 24 hours a day. Quoted price before we roll.