VDOT Photo

Geico Insurance is about to sponsor “Safe Phone Zones” at the state’s highway rest areas and welcome centers, part of state efforts to bring in new revenue through rest area sponsorships. The program will now include highways signs directing drivers to the safe phone zones, signs which will feature the Geico name and picture of its ever-present gecko. Another contractor is already paying for the right to provide vending services at these rest areas. Overall, it should bring in about $2 million  a year to help Virginia pay the $21 million cost of running the facilities — 43 of them in all.