The Georgia Department of Transportation and insurance company GEICO announced they have partnered on the state’s two roadside assistance programs.
GEICO will become the new sponsor for the Coordinated Highway Assistance & Maintenance Program, or CHAMP, as well as the Highway Emergency Response Operators, or HERO, in the Atlanta area. The free patrol services help more than 200,000 drivers each year while assisting motorists in need. The programs help alleviate congestion, help prevent secondary crashes and keep traffic moving, officials said. The GEICO-sponsored programs will continue to play a critical role in keeping roadways clear and helping motorists throughout the summer and beyond.
“With increased traffic expected this summer—from seasonal travel to visitors coming in for FIFA World Cup matches and related events—Georgia’s CHAMP and HERO patrols will be critical to keeping our highways safe, clear, and moving,” Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell R. McMurry said. “Our top priority is maintaining a reliable transportation system for both residents and visitors. We appreciate GEICO’s support of these essential patrols, which help sustain these no-cost services for motorists while also creating a valuable funding source to enhance roadway safety and reliability, particularly during this period of heightened demand.”
The sponsorship provides supplementary funding for the two programs, supporting equipment and operational enhancements for the free service. The sponsorship also raises awareness of the highway patrol programs, officials said.
“Helping drivers through the unexpected is at the heart of what we do at GEICO, and CHAMP and HERO do exactly that every day on Georgia’s roads,” Joe Termini, GEICO government affairs lead for Georgia, said. “We are proud to put our name behind patrols that get drivers moving again and keep these roads safer for everyone.”
CHAMP and HERO operate separately to cover interstates throughout Georgia. CHAMP patrols 965 miles across 35 routes outside of Atlanta, while HERO patrols 382 miles on 32 routes in metro Atlanta. Last year, CHAMP performed more than 164,000 motorist assists, while HERO performed more than 47,000 motorist assists.
The services are free to any roadway traveler on Georgia’s interstates by dialing 511 and requesting assistance. CHAMP is available from 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., with coverage on the following Interstates outside metro Atlanta: I-75, I-475, I-20, SR 520, I-85, I-185, I-16, I-516, I-575 and I-985, while HERO is available 24/7 and patrols interstates including I-20, I-75, I-85, I-285, I-575, I-675, I-985, and major highways SR 400, SR 166/Langford Pkwy, and US 78.