RICHMOND, Va. -- The Virginia Department of Transportation's Safety Service Patrol is always there to help fix a flat tire or lend a gallon of gas. But cuts to VDOT's budget, could see a cut in the number of patrols along Interstate 64 in Henrico and New Kent counties.
"During the weekdays, you'll expect to see patrols out during rush hour in the morning and in the evening. And then that shifts on the weekends, where you'll see patrols from about 10 a.m. to sometime in the early evening hours," Lindsay LeGrand, a VDOT spokesperson said.
Here in Central Virginia, the budget for Safety Service Patrol is $2.3 million. VDOT is proposing cutting by that by 16 percent or $380,000.
The two sections of I-64 were picked VDOT says, after careful study.
"We looked to see where the greatest needs were, where the least amount of incidents, where we also have camera coverage," LeGrand said.
Some drivers do not like the idea, believing safety should always be a priority.
Others understand the need to find ways to save.
"It makes perfect sense to cut it when you don't have the traffic volume," said Walter Sydnor.
In fact, Bill Wallace, who travels from Pennsylvania to Virginia, said there are other ways drivers can get help.
"A lot of people, their insurance companies or AAA or somebody like that can take care of those things."
Some of the services VDOT's Safety Service Patrol perform include:
- Incident management – detection, temporary traffic control, disabled vehicle relocation and detours
- Debris removal
- Jump starts
- Fuel to get to nearest gas station
- Water for overheating radiators
- Tire changes
- Phone access to call tow services
- Directions and a state map'
- Standard first aid until emergency services arrive
