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In an action expected to save the State over $1 million, and prevent motorists from walking along a high-speed interstate roadway, RIDOT will remove the outdated and underutilized call box system.

“With the removal of highway call boxes, the Rhode Island E 9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System encourages the general public to use 911 for highway related emergencies requiring immediate police, fire or medical attention,” said Raymond LaBelle, Executive Director, Rhode Island E 9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System.

The Motorist Aid Call Box System has been in place since 1978 and operational since 1979 and are located on I-95, I-195, I-295, the Jamestown Bridge and Route 138 from the Jamestown Bridge to the Newport Bridge toll plaza. Maintenance to the system of 284 boxes is expensive, the system has been operating sporadically, and more than 50 boxes are out of service.

“Using the call box system on our interstates requires stranded motorists to walk along the roadway which is extremely dangerous,” said James R. Capaldi, P.E., RIDOT’s Director. “The safest thing a motorist can do is pull off as far off to the side of the road as possible, and wait in their vehicle until help arrives.”

In New England Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont do not have call box systems. In Connecticut, only two of their bridges still use a call box system. Massachusetts still uses a call box system on their major highways, but their system does not allow the caller and the dispatcher to talk to each other. Their system only sends a signal that assistance is needed at that specific location.

In today’s age of the cell phone, justifying a multi-million dollar expenditure to repair, replace, maintain and staff the antiquated call box system is a difficult one. According to E 9-1-1, 520,000 people in Rhode Island have cell phones. And alternatives to the call box systems are already in place to aid motorists in a non-emergency situation, but still in need of assistance.

The State Police can be contacted while on the road by dialing *SP, the same as dialing *77, for emergency as well as non-emergency situations. AAA members can call AAA for roadside assistance if they are in a non-emergency situation. RIDOT also has a RhodeWatcher program that uses cell phone carrying RIDOT employees as extra eyes and ears on the road, and its Transportation Management Center (TMC) has 37 highway cameras that cover almost 45 miles of roadway and monitors road safety among other things.

RIDOT will be installing additional blue informational “Emergency Dial 911” signs to supplement those already on the interstates. There are also close to 20 signs on the interstates directing those in need to dial *SP (*77) for the State Police.

“There are enough redundant features built into the interstate system to keep motorists in need of assistance safe in an emergency. Walking down Route 95 to find a call box is not one of them,” said Capaldi. “Passing motorists can help by being good samaritans and call in motorists in distress.”

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