23 September 2002: The AA is to phase out most of its 522 roadside phones in the UK because of lack of use. Only a handful of calls - less than 6,000 a year out of nearly 5,500,000 - are made from roadside phones, with most people today favouring a mobile phone.

A total of 21 of the phones are housed within early wooden sentry boxes – eight of which are listed buildings – and will remain standing, with the phone removed. Some of the other 501 phones, mainly on trunk roads, will be taken over by other agencies, including the UK Highways Agency, Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament.

The first AA "sentry" telephone box was erected in 1911, in Ashtead, Surrey. Early boxes were first intended as shelters for passing AA patrols.

Soon, the wooden boxes became available to members, who could phone the motoring organisation free of charge if their car had broken down.

Early boxes were equipped with fire extinguishers and in 1920, keys were issued to members to allow them to gain access. Designs changed over the years, and in 1925, a series of "super" boxes with illuminated direction signs on top, appeared at major crossroads.

In the 1970s the sentry boxes began to be phased out – with the exception of those that were "listed" or in "areas of scenic beauty" – in favour of modern, free-standing pedestal phones.

AA patrols are now able to get to members in less than 35 minutes on average thanks to new technology such as computerised deployment systems like AA HELP and state-of-the-art route guidance equipment that is fitted in all of our 3,800 vehicles.

AA members can also receive SMS text messages on their mobile phones, advising them of estimated arrival times and details of service, to confirm that help is on its way. Deaf motorists and drivers with speech or hearing difficulties are able to take one step further and text their breakdown details to the AA from their own phone using a dedicated number.