Emergency Call Boxes OKd for County Roads

Los Angeles County officials have reached an agreement that will allow the county to place emergency call boxes on county roads, including the Angeles Forest Highway, Supervisor Mike Antonovich announced Thursday.

Although most of the locations have not been determined, the first of what will be 350 motorist aid call boxes will be placed on rural roads by early summer, county officials said.

“Installing these call boxes will improve the safety and welfare of motorists traveling on county rural roads,” said Antonovich. “It will benefit the large numbers of north county area residents traveling over remote mountain and desert roads to work and recreational destinations.”

Antonovich said that in addition to the Angeles Forest Highway, several other roads in the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valley areas are under consideration for the boxes.

Gov. Pete Wilson signed legislation last year allowing call boxes to be placed on county roads in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.

Earlier this week, the Board of Supervisors reached an agreement with the county’s Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies, known as SAFE, to implement the call box system.

Antonovich said that SAFE will cover the $1.3-million installation fee and, along with other county officials, will identify locations where the boxes will be placed. The California Highway Patrol will respond to the calls made from the boxes.