Road Crewzers

'Road CrewZers' come to rescue of Northeast Ohio motorists
From Vision, Volume 6, Number 9, May 4, 1998

If your car breaks down in parts of Northeast Ohio, a “RoadCrewZer” may come to your rescue. Cellular services is participating in the RoadCrewZers program, an initiative designed to provide a safer driving experience for motorists.

The program is sponsored by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) in association with the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency’s “Way to Go” program.

The RoadCrewZers have a fleet of five vehicles and patrol the highways of Cuyahoga County in search of situations that disrupt the normal traffic flow.

Workers for RoadCrewZers clear the highways of debris, assist disabled motorists, provide assistance in accidents and call for towing service. “Partnering with RoadCrewZers is part of an ongoing effort by cellular services to address the public safety issues that face all of us,” said Rick Slavin, vice president, cellular services.

RoadCrewZers operates year-round. Cellular services provides free cellular phones and local airtime to the crews. In return, RoadCrewZers’ five vehicles display the Ameritech logo and ODOT drivers distribute literature that advertises cellular service to all of the motorists they assist. The program assists about 1,000 vehicles per month.

Motorists also receive cards that explain Ameritech’s involvement and give drivers the opportunity to request more information on cellular phones.

According to Karen Lenehan, public information officer for ODOT, “The cell phones from Ameritech definitely allow us to provide faster assistance and positively affect a larger number of drivers on the county’s highways.”

Brian Fairbanks, contributing writer

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