EMERGENCY LONG-DISTANCE PHONE SYSTEM FOR IOWA MOTORISTS ON TWO YEAR TRIAL

A NEW HIGHWAY EMERGENCY LONG-DISTANCE PHONE ("HELP") SYSTEM, WHICH WENT INTO EFFECT JULY 1, 1972, WILL ENABLE MOTORISTS ON ANY IOWA HIGHWAY TO REQUEST EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR AMBULANCE, MEDICAL, FIRE DEPARTMENT, OR AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR WITH A MINIMUM OF DIFFICULTY AND TIME. THE HELP SYSTEM UTILIZES A SINGLE TELEPHONE NUMBER THAT MAY BE CALLED, TOLL FREE, FROM ANYWHERE IN THE STATE. IN ADDITION TO SIGNS PLACED ALONG THE HIGHWAY INFORMING MOTORISTS OF THE HELP NUMBER TO CALL, THE NUMBER WILL BE AVAILBLE IN ALL HIGHWAY-ORIENTED TELEPHONE BOOTHS, PLACES ON IOWA HIGHWAY MAPS, AND DISSEMINATED TO THE PUBLIC IN ALL OTHER APPROPRIATE MANNERS. THE NEW HELP PROGRAM WILL OPERATE INITIALLY FOR 2 YEARS ON A TRIAL BASIS. THE HIGHWAY COMMISSION WILL FUND APPROXIMATELY $30,000 FOR THE RESEARCH PROJECT OF WHICH $20,000 IS FOR TELEPHONE LINE CHARGES AND $10,000 FOR INSTALLATION OF SIGNS AND OTHER ADVERTISING DEVICES TO ALERT THE PUBLIC OF THE SERVICE. DURING THE RESEARCH PHASE OF THE PROJECT, INQUIRY CARDS WILL BE SENT TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE UTILIZED THE SERVICE REQUESTING COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE THE SERVICE. /IRRD/

• Publication Date: 1972

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 46-7
• Serial:
  • Highway Research News
  • Issue Number: 48

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Disasters and emergency operations; Hazards and emergency operations; Highways; Telephone
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00226504
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 2 1973 12:00AM