March 10, 2022
New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti has announced that GEICO is the new sponsor of the NJDOT Safety Service Patrol. Motorists can expect the same excellent service.
The Safety Service Patrol (SSP) was created in 1994 as a free service to assist motorists whose vehicles have become disabled as a result of a crash or a mechanical failure, and to provide safety for emergency responders. The SSP patrol 225 miles of Interstate and State highways throughout New Jersey, extending to over 394 miles during the winter season.
“Public-private partnerships, like this one between the New Jersey Department of Transportation and GEICO, are an effective tool in providing motorists on our roadways with a high level of service and safety,” NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti said. “With GEICO’s support, motorists and first responders can be assured that our dedicated SSP drivers will be on the road to assist them in times of need.”
Since its inception, this highly visible and successful program has responded to more than 1.6 million incidents on New Jersey’s highly traveled road network. The NJDOT Safety Service Patrol responds to an average of about 55,000 incidents each year. They help keep drivers safe by changing flat tires, jump-starting cars, providing minimal amounts of fuel, removing debris from the road and making small safety repairs.
“GEICO always looks for opportunities to make roadways safer for all,” said GEICO Assistant Vice President Frank Pickering. “GEICO is happy to partner with commissioner Gutierrez- Scaccetti and the members of the SSP to contribute to the safety of Garden State drivers.”
In addition to assisting motorists, the SSP works with the New Jersey State Police and other first responders to clear incidents and control traffic around incident scenes and weather- related emergencies to make sure roadways remain open and passable. This is imperative to support a safe incident work area for responders. This also helps reduce secondary crashes and has the additional benefit of alleviating congestion, which reduces pollution and wasted fuel. With GEICO support, the patrol will continue to provide vital services to motorists in need and improve mobility on the state’s highest trafficked highways for years to come.
By offsetting operational costs, the GEICO sponsorship allows the NJDOT to improve SSP facilities, conduct research, and purchase new and innovative tools. SSP drivers patrol Monday through Friday from 4:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. plus weekends (and some holidays) from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Official highway signs informing motorists of the patrolled routes will now feature the GEICO logo. The service is provided free of charge through the sponsorship with GEICO and funding from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
A member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies, GEICO is a stable company that was founded 85 years ago and consistently works to make driving safer for all travelers. Through sponsorship of the Safety Patrol, GEICO continues its focus on safety by supporting the NJDOT.
More information about the Safety Service Patrol, can be found atSafetyPatrolinfo.com and the NJDOT website. GEICO Living is also a great source for auto safety related articles and tips. Assisted motorists are encouraged to share about the help they received by posting to social media. Motorists will be able to tag the patrols using #GEICOSafetyPatrol.
Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website 511nj.org for construction updates and real-time travel information. For additional news, follow NJDOT on Twitter@NewJerseyDOT or on the NJDOT Facebook page.
