December 11, 2008 -- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) wants to remind Michigan motorists that the Freeway Courtesy Patrol is the only state-supported service on metro Detroit freeways designed to assist stranded motorists. The Freeway Courtesy Patrol began in 1994 with two vans along I-75 in Detroit. Today, the service, which is supported with federal and state funds, has 24 vehicles patrolling 10 freeways in Detroit's tri-county area.
"With winter approaching, the importance of the Freeway Courtesy Patrol cannot be underestimated in terms of helping motorists," said Matt Smith, Traffic and Safety Engineer in MDOT's Metro Region. "However, we also feel it's important to remind drivers that MDOT's Freeway Courtesy Patrol uses full size vans that are clearly marked."
In 2007, the Freeway Courtesy Patrol made over 51,000 assists. Of that number, more than 68 percent were to aid stranded motorists. In addition, more than 1,900 assists were made to remove debris from freeway travel lanes. For 2007 operations, a conservative calculation found that for each dollar invested in the service, a benefit of $15.90 was realized in minimizing user delay costs.
MDOT says: Remember - In Ice and Snow, Take it Slow!
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