On Thursday the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) received a briefing on the Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies (SAFE) Highway Call Box Program. The board examined current usage, costs, statewide trends and possible alternatives as the county’s once‑extensive network of roadside communication devices faces possible removal.
History and Current Status
Call boxes were first installed in Santa Barbara County in 1987, providing motorists with a 24‑hour link to a call center that could dispatch assistance for a range of roadside emergencies. At their peak the system included more than 350 boxes spread across the county’s highways.
Since a 2019 reduction, only 47 boxes remain, all located on rural sections of Highways 101, 154 and 166. The distribution is as follows: 12 boxes on Highway 101 near Buellton and the Gaviota area, 15 boxes on Highway 166 between Santa Maria and New Cuyama, and 20 boxes on Highway 154 across the San Marcos Pass between Los Olivos and Santa Barbara.
Declining Use and Rising Costs
SBCAG staff data show a dramatic 90 percent drop in call volume over the past 25 years. In 1999 the system handled nearly 8,000 calls; by 2024 that number fell below 200, and in the most recent fiscal year the entire network recorded just 153 calls—an average of 12 calls per month, or roughly 1.5 calls per box per year.
Because the number of calls has plummeted while technology upgrades, vendor consolidation and increased cellular service charges have driven expenses upward, the inflation‑adjusted cost per call rose from $0.42 in 1999 to an estimated $510 in 2025. SBCAG currently allocates just over $100,000 annually for maintenance, staffing, California Highway Patrol coordination and other operational needs.
Regional Context
Santa Barbara County is not alone in reevaluating the program. Ventura County has already discontinued its call boxes, while Monterey County now limits service to rural corridors only. Other California counties that have eliminated or sharply reduced the service include Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Cruz and Merced. San Diego and several Bay Area counties have pursued partial reductions, and San Luis Obispo County recently announced plans to remove its remaining boxes within the current fiscal year.
Next Steps
The SBCAG board did not take immediate action, as the agenda item was listed as “receive and file.” After a 40‑minute discussion, directors agreed to revisit the issue later in the year, targeting either October or November for a formal decision on whether to maintain a reduced system or discontinue it entirely.
Local residents and motorists who rely on the boxes for emergency assistance are encouraged to stay informed as the board’s deliberations continue. The outcome will affect how drivers in rural parts of the county receive help during vehicle breakdowns, medical emergencies or other incidents where cellular service may be unavailable.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
