Louisiana DOTD announces State Farm sponsorship of Motorist Assistance Patrol Program
Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at 11:20:58 AM
BATON ROUGE, LA – Today, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced a new public-private agreement with State Farm for sponsorship of the MAP (Motorist Assistance Patrol) program. MAP is a service that offers roadway assistance to motorists in need. The collaboration provides a supplemental funding source for the highly effective traffic management program.
The innovative public-private relationship furthers DOTD’s efforts to reduce delay and improve safety for the motoring public without requiring additional tax dollars, while highlighting the State Farm commitment to auto safety. State Farm has committed to sponsor the MAP program for at least three years, at a cost of $250,000 a year.
As part of the sponsorship program, all MAP vehicles will receive an updated look with enhanced, highly reflective safety markings to make the vehicle more visible to motorists, especially at night. As the exclusive sponsor, the State Farm logo will be added to the MAP trucks and patrol operator uniforms.
In addition to assisting motorists, the MAP program helps improve traffic flow and reduces traffic congestion caused by stalled vehicles, while at the same time, providing safety and comfort to those stranded.
"DOTD is thrilled at the opportunity to work with State Farm," DOTD Secretary Sherri H. LeBas said. "State Farm’s sponsorship of DOTD’s Motorist Assistance Patrol program is a smart way to supplement operational costs of this important program."
State Farm is headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois. 365 of the company’s agents are in communities across Louisiana. State Farm is the nation’s and state’s leading automobile insurer, insuring one in four autos in Louisiana.
"The MAP program underscores the State Farm commitment to auto safety and embodies our ‘good neighbor’ philosophy," said Martin Cantu, from State Farm. "We are proud to sponsor this important program. It helps people recover from the unexpected, which is the heart of the State Farm mission."
"DOTD’s Motor Assistance Patrol program is a tremendous partner for the Louisiana State Police. More importantly, MAP is a safety resource for the citizens we serve," said Colonel Mike Edmonson, State Police Superintendent. "Whether MAP personnel are attending to a disabled motorist or assisting Troopers at a major crash scene, their efforts directly contribute to public safety on our highways. Congratulations to Secretary LeBas and State Farm on this new endeavor."
DOTD’s MAP program provides services seven days a week, from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on major interstates in the Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport areas. MAP trucks are often the first to arrive at a traffic incident and also provide an array of services to stranded motorists that include: changing flat tires, providing jump starts, adding coolant and fuel. MAP patrols also offer a cell phone and phone book for motorists’ use. In 2012, the DOTD’s MAP trucks patrolled more than 1.7 million miles and helped more than 55,000 customers.
Editors: Photos and b-roll video of the LADOTD MAP trucks are available at www.travelersmarketing.com/LADOTDMAP
About DOTD:
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is committed to delivering transportation and public works systems that enhance the quality of life. In addition to more than 16,600 miles of roadway, including over 930 miles of interstate and 13,000 bridges, DOTD supports the development of the state’s aviation, marine and rail infrastructures. Through this work, we are able to facilitate economic development, create job opportunities, improve vital evacuation routes, and make critical freight corridors safer and more efficient.
For more information, please visit www.dotd.la.gov, email dotdcs@la.gov, or call DOTD’s Customer Service Center at (225) 379-1232 or 1-877-4LADOTD (1-877-452-3683). Business hours are 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Motorists can access up-to-date travel information by dialing 511 or by visiting www.511la.org. Out-of-state travelers can call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511).
About State Farm®:
State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. and is a leading insurer in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their nearly 18,000 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts – more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 44 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.
About Travelers Marketing:
Travelers Marketing was founded in 1997 to work exclusively with toll roads, DOT’s to develop unique marketing and sponsorship programs. The company’s various programs reach drivers over 5 billion times annually. In 2002, Travelers Marketing launched the first of its kind Safety Service Patrol Sponsorship for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Since then, Travelers Marketing has forged sponsorships of Safety Service Patrols in Florida, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Georgia, New York, Maryland, Kansas, Indiana, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Illinois and now, Louisiana. Safety Service Patrol Sponsorships are currently under consideration by DOT’s and toll road authorities in a dozen other jurisdictions. For more information, please visit http://www.travelersmarketing.com.