Georgia DOT and GEICO partner on CHAMP, HERO programs

The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) has announced a new partnership with GEICO as the statewide sponsor of Georgia’s highly regarded Coordinated Highway Assistance & Maintenance Program, known as “CHAMP” and the Highway Emergency Response Operators “HERO” program in the Atlanta metro area.

The free CHAMP and HERO patrol services are among the most recognized safety resources on Georgia’s interstate highways, helping over 200,000 drivers each year while assisting motorists in need, alleviating congestion, helping prevent secondary crashes, and keeping traffic moving. The GEICO-sponsored programs will continue to play a critical role in keeping roadways clear, assisting motorists, and ensuring safe, efficient travel for the millions of visitors expected to experience this historic commemoration this 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,” said Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell R. McMurry. “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.”

GEICO’s sponsorship provides supplementary funding for CHAMP and HERO, supporting equipment and operational enhancements for these free services provided to the traveling public. Additionally, sponsorship amplifies awareness of the highway patrol programs, with GEICO presence on informational CHAMP and HERO highway signs informing motorists of patrolled routes.

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,” said Joe Termini, GEICO government affairs lead for Georgia. We are proud to put our name behind patrols that get drivers moving again and keep these roads safer for everyone.

The CHAMP and HERO programs sponsored by GEICO are operated separately but together offer coverage across interstates throughout the state of Georgia. Assistance is available to all drivers on covered patrol routes, with no GEICO policy required. These services will remain free for any roadway traveler on Georgia’s interstates simply by dialing 511 and requesting assistance from live operators 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

CHAMP, sponsored by GEICO, patrols 965 miles across 35 routes outside of Atlanta, and last year performed over 164,000 motorist assists. CHAMP is operated by a contractor on behalf of the department and provides comprehensive roadway support by assisting motorists when safe and feasible; responding to incidents with traffic control and clearance; detecting and verifying crashes; supporting law enforcement; removing debris and minor spills; addressing abandoned vehicles; maintaining safe traffic flow; and identifying roadway maintenance needs.

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. Specific patrol routes, a map and other details can be found on the CHAMP website.

HERO, sponsored by GEICO, patrols 382 Miles on 32 routes in metro Atlanta and last year performed over 47,​000 motorist assists. HERO units are dispatched to traffic-related incidents in metro Atlanta with the primary duty to clear roads so that normal traffic flow is restored. HEROs also assist stranded motorists by changing flat tires, jump-starting batteries, providing fuel or coolant, pushing vehicles to the shoulder, transporting motorists to safe areas away from traffic, administering first aid, and performing minor mechanical repairs.

The HERO program operates 24/7, patrolling 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. Specific patrol routes, map and other details can be found on the HERO website.

The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) consider Georgia DOT’s and other Safety Service Patrols to be “one of the most effective Traffic Incident Management components.” In the United States, 20% of crashes result from a previous crash, and for every minute a primary incident remains a hazard, the likelihood of a secondary crash increases by 2.8%.

GEICO proudly sponsors similar Safety Service Patrol programs in 18 other states. More information about CHAMP and HERO can be found at SafetyPatrolinfo.com. Assisted motorists are encouraged to share their experience by posting to social media using #GEICOSafetyPatrol or sharing on Georgia DOT’s social channels.