FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2009-05-27

TRAVELERS MARKETING ANNOUNCES A NEW SAFETY/SERVICE PATROL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM

Travelers Marketing has successfully completed the country’s newest and largest Safety-Service Patrol Sponsorship/Partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). The business model developed by Travelers Marketing, calls for the sponsor to provide annual payments to the Department in exchange for certain co-branding privileges on the vehicles and associated media. GDOT joins a growing number of state departments of transportation now participating in this innovative public/private partnership. Travelers Marketing’s Sponsorship Program is widely embraced by transportation professionals and public officials as a successful and sustainable funding source for this demonstrably effective highway safety program. “We know that incident management is one of the most effective, efficient methods to relieving congestion,” Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue said. “This partnership ensures sustainable funding is available to keep our HERO trucks busy clearing wrecks and keeping traffic moving.” According to Georgia State Transportation Board member, Brandon Beach, “Travelers Marketing has a keen understanding to the public purpose of our HERO program and deep sensitivity to the importance of the HERO identity. The company has distinguished itself in its ability to bridge public policy and process with private sector objectives.” By carefully matching public and private sector interests in reducing highway accidents and congestion and strengthening the good work and goodwill of DOT’s in a time of reduced resources, Travelers Marketing has created a unique public/ private partnership. The company engaged State Farm Insurance Company as the program sponsor. With its unmatched corporate commitment to highway safety throughout the United States, the mission of State Farm aligns with emergency response programs like GDOT’s HERO. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has long encouraged innovative ways to fund Intelligent Transportation System services. Robert Arnold, Director of the Office of Transportation Operation states in his memo titled Freeway Safety Service/Motorist Assistance Patrol Sponsorships, “The Federal Highway Administration strongly urges other States to examine the benefits of this type of public/private partnership. As transportation professionals and operators of the highway system, we have a responsibility to provide a high level of customer service and we see such agreements as a means to accomplish this goal.” Arnold goes on to say, “Sponsorship of service patrol programs brings increased awareness of their existence by leveraging the power of a large private company by way of a comprehensive public relations and marketing department. Some important uses for sponsorship funds include improvement/expansion of the vehicle fleet, the introduction of high-tech devices to improve communication and data entry, and the introduction of improved safety equipment such as defibrillator.” Travelers Marketing was founded in 1997 and works exclusively with Toll Roads, DOT’s and the Federal Highway Administration to develop unique marketing and sponsorship programs that reach over 5 billion drivers annually. Travelers Marketing contracted with the Massachusetts Highway Department in 2003 to launch the first of its kind Service Patrol Sponsorship of an existing DOT patrol. Since then, Travelers Marketing has forged sponsorships of Service Patrols in Florida, Colorado and Pennsylvania. Service Patrol sponsorships are currently under consideration by DOT’s and toll road authorities in a dozen other jurisdictions. CONTACT: Sam McClain, VP of Sponsorship 407.456.1917 smcclain@travelersmarketing.com 

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