|
June 23 2005
Metro and the Los Angeles
County Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies (LA SAFE)
announced today a new non-emergency cell phone number that
motorists can use for roadside assistance on Los Angeles
County freeways. The new number, #399, allows motorists
traveling along the freeway system in Los Angeles County
only to use their cell phone to summons roadside assistance
from their Auto Club or from the Metro Freeway Service
Patrol. Motorists, using their cell phone, simply dial
#399 and they will be connected to a live operator who will
assist them in obtaining the appropriate service in response
to their call. "With the influx of cell phone technology,
this makes perfect sense in expanding the freeway call box
program to allow motorists here in LA County to use their
own cell phones to summons non-emergency roadside
assistance," said Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority Board Chairman Frank Roberts. LA
SAFE will implement the new program effective July 1.
It is anticipated that the
introduction of the #399 number will reduce the burden on
the 9-1-1- emergency system by providing motorists with a
viable option to call when in need of non-emergency
roadside assistance. Examples may include running out of
gas, flat tie or mechanical malfunction of a vehicle out of
the freeway travel lanes.
The new cell phone #399
number does not replace the 9-1-1 emergency number.
Motorists should continue to use 9-1-1 when requesting
medical, fire or law enforcement response or reporting a
hazard on a freeway travel lane. "This is a great tool in
our effort to reduce traffic congestion on our freeways,"
said Los Angeles Mayor-Elect Antonio Villaraigosa. "It will
benefit the motorist looking for immediate assistance and
also will help all Los Angeles County residents and the
California Highway Patrol by providing a reliable and easy
alternative for motorists to call when they need help."
It is estimated that an
average of 10,000 calls per month for the first year will
be received from motorists using the #399 number. There
will be no charge to the caller by LA SAFE to answer and
handle the call, however, the caller may be assessed minute
charges by their carrier against their current plan. "The
introduction of this new non-emergency cell phone number
comes at a great time as we plan to expand the successful
Metro Freeway Service Patrol program on Southland
freeways," said Metro CEO Roger Snoble. Effective July 1
the Metro Freeway Service Patrol will expand selected
weekday and weekend service in existing patrol areas
providing service from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through
Friday and from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the weekends. The
number of Metro Freeway Service Patrol tow trucks will
increase from 33 to 44 in midday during the week and from
28 to 42 on the weekends.
Funding for the new #399
non-emergency cell phone number is provided by LA SAFE,
which obtains its revenues from an annual $1 vehicle
registration surcharge assessed to each vehicle registered
in Los Angeles County. Cost of the program is estimated at
$1 million a year.
LA SAFE was created in
1988, pursuant to California Streets and Highway Code
Section 2550 et.seq. and is responsible for providing
motorist aid services in Los Angeles County. |