HOUSTON -- Mayor Bill White plans to ride along with a wrecker driver to get a firsthand look at his administration's new ordinance, Houston's SAFEclear program, which has been under fire since its inauguration.

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The new ordinance requires all stalled vehicles to be towed at the owner's expense, which has drivers angry that they are forced to pay a fee for a service they do not want. Wrecker drivers have also voiced complaints about communication problems.

Despite the controversy, White is still defending the program.

"The new system will reduce congestion, will reduce deaths, get the vehicles out so that the traffic can move," White said.

SAFEclear wreckers charge a flat fee of $75 for the first five miles and $1.50 for every mile after. Credit cards and checks are accepted.

In an exclusive Local 2 Flashpoll, SurveyUSA asked approximately 500 Houstonians, "if they think the mayor's SAFEclear program, along with synchronized traffic lights, has helped Houston traffic?"

Eleven percent believed the situation has improved. Fifty-nine percent said it has gotten worse. Twenty-nine percent said it is the same as before and 1 percent of the people polled were not sure.