Motorist Aid for Santa Cruz County

Consistent with the California Streets and Highway Code Section 2550-2559, in 1988, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) was designated the Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies (SAFE) for Santa Cruz County.  As the SAFE, the RTC levies a $1 vehicle registration fee on all vehicles registered in Santa Cruz County.  With these SAFE funds the RTC implements the following on-going motorist aid programs.

CALL BOX PROGRAM

The main reason for establishing SAFES was to develop a system of roadside call boxes.  As the SAFE, the RTC owns and operates a network of 124 road side call boxes on Santa Cruz County highways.  The call box program provides assistance to motorists who find themselves in need while traveling on the County’s highways.  Motorists simply pick up the handset to be automatically connected to an operator.  The operator may call an auto club, such as AAA, a tow truck company, a relative or a friend to ensure assistance for a motorist whose vehicle has broken down.  The call boxes may also be used to report collisions or other highway incidents and obtain the necessary services.  There is no charge to the motorist for using the call box, but there may be a charge for the tow truck or other services requested or required.

The call boxes use cellular phone technology and are powered by solar energy. The call box program is funded entirely from SAFE funds.  Call 460-3200 for more information on the call box program in Santa Cruz County.

FREEWAY SERVICE PATROL

The Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) program provides assistance to motorists in need and reduces freeway congestion at the same time.  By quickly finding and removing minor incidents from the freeway during peak periods the freeway service patrol alleviates incident related traffic congestion.  The FSP commonly performs tasks such as: changing a flat tire, jump-starting vehicles, providing gas, or towing disabled vehicles to a designated location off of the freeway or highway. All of the services are free of charge.

The Regional Transportation Commission operates the Freeway Service Patrol on Highway 1 and Highway 17 in cooperation with Caltrans, the San Francisco Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the California Highway Patrol. The FSP tow trucks operate during weekday commute hours and on a limited schedule on the weekends.  The 2008 Operating Schedule is now available.

The FSP program is funded with a combination of State FSP, State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and SAFE funds. Call 460-3200 for more information on the freeway service patrol program in Santa Cruz County.

"SAFE ON 17"/HIGHWAY 17 SAFETY CORRIDOR

The Safe on 17 Program addresses safety issues on Highway 17 in Santa Cruz and Santa Clara Counties.  Extra enforcement on Highway 17 is a critical piece of the Safe on 17 program.  Extra enforcement is provided by the California Highway Patrol  between Highway 9 in Santa Cruz County and Los Gatos in Santa Clara County.  Other components of the Safe on 17 program include public information on safe driving and enforcement, and coordinated safety improvements.  Since the program’s inception in 1998, collisions on Highway 17 have been reduced by approximately 40%.  The 2007 Safe on 17 Annual Report provides specific details on collision and citation rates and safety improvements on Highway 17.

The Regional Transportation Commission and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Service Authority for Freeways and Expressways (SAFE) have a funding partnership, and each provides $50,000 annually for the extra enforcement on Highway 17. 

A group known as the Safe on 17 Task Force and comprised of representatives from the San Jose and Santa Cruz area CHP, Caltrans Traffic Safety, Caltrans Maintenance, Media, local law enforcement and fire department meets twice a year. The Task Force discusses collision statistics, safety improvements and related Highway 17 issues. Call 460-3200 for more information on the “Safe on 17” Program.