CTDOT Safety Patrol sponsored by GEICO

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) Safety Patrol, sponsored by GEICO, is an integral part of the state’s incident management program. Each year, the Safety Patrol responds to nearly 15,000 service calls in Connecticut.

The CTDOT Safety Patrol, sponsored by GEICO, provides limited roadside assistance at no charge to drivers in need, including changing flat tires, jump-starting vehicles, and moving disabled vehicles to the shoulder. There is no charge for the service and drivers cannot accept tips.

Each weekday from 5:30 AM To 7:00 PM with a 30-minute break between 12:00-12:30 PM the CTDOT Safety Patrol, sponsored by GEICO, vehicles patrol highways across Connecticut including I-84, I-91, I-95, I-291, I-395, Route 2, Route 7, Route 8, and Route 15 (Merritt Parkway).

In addition to assisting stranded motorists, the Safety Patrol works with emergency responders at incident scenes. The Safety Patrol also clears debris from the highway in an effort to improve traffic flow and prevent future incidents.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is proud to offer this service, sponsored by GEICO, to all motorists. Motorists can share their feedback and experiences on www.SafetyPatrolInfo.com. You can also post to social media using the hashtag #GEICOSafetyPatrol on CTDOT’s Facebook page, CTDOT’s Twitter page or CTDOT’s Instagram.

The Connecticut DOT Safety Patrol program is operated solely by Connecticut DOT personnel who are not authorized to contact GEICO on behalf of the motorists or assist in insurance claims.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
THE CTDOT GEICO SAFETY PATROL SPONSORSHIP

1. How does CTDOT use sponsorship funding from GEICO?
   GEICO’s sponsorship allows the CTDOT Safety Patrol to travel Connecticut’s highways and roadways looking for stranded motorists in disabled vehicles, debris on the road, traffic crashes, and other incidents. The sponsorship offsets the operational costs that helps keep roadways and motorists safe and maintains the traffic flow.

2. What services do you provide motorists?
   The CTDOT Safety Patrol drivers can perform minor mechanical repairs such as changing a flat tire, jump start vehicles, taping a leaking hose, or providing fluids such as fuel, water, and motor oil. The drivers are often the first responder to traffic crashes, and they help remove vehicles from the travel lanes when possible and provide temporary traffic control until additional emergency responders arrive. The Safety Patrol drivers will also help motorists with travel information or directions and even push stranded vehicles out of harm’s way and to the safety of highway shoulder areas.

3. How many incidents does the Safety Patrol respond to each year?
   On average, the CTDOT Safety Patrol responds to approximately 15,000 incidents each year.

4. What is the most common type of incident?
   The most common type of incident the Safety Patrol responds to is flat tires.

5. How quickly, on average, does the Safety Patrol clear an incident?
   The Safety Patrol spends an average of 20 minutes at an incident scene.

6. How does the CTDOT Safety Patrol, sponsored by GEICO, program work?
   The program works to help keep motorists safe and traffic flowing along Connecticut highways and roadways. CTDOT Safety Patrol vehicles proactively patrol I-84, I-91, I-95, I-291, I-395, Route 2, Route 7, Route 8, and Route 15 and are on the lookout for stranded motorists needing assistance, as well as any incidents including crashes, debris on roadways, or any other occurrences that can impede traffic flow.

7. How much will this service cost motorists?
   There is no charge to drivers for the service, and patrol drivers cannot accept tips.

8. What are the hours of operation?
   The CTDOT Safety Patrol, sponsored by GEICO, operates Monday– Friday from 5:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

9. Where do I call if I need help?
   The CTDOT Safety Patrol will stop for disabled vehicles on the roadside or be notified by the State Police when motorists call 911 from a cell phone. Motorists traveling covered routes during the hours of service should remain with their vehicles until assistance arrives. Please note that the CTDOT Safety Patrol does not operate during snowstorms.

10. What else is relevant about the program?
    Since the inception of the CTDOT original Highway Assistance Motorist Patrol program in 1995 on I-95 using four trucks, the program has expanded to I-84, I-91, I-95, I-395, Route 2, Route 8, Route 9, Route 15, and Route 72 with 15 vehicles patrolling throughout the weekdays.

11. Does GEICO plan to sponsor Safety Patrols in other states?
    In addition to Connecticut, GEICO currently sponsors Safety Patrols in Indiana, Maine, Colorado, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Maryland.