Best Practices in Traffic Incident Management
September 2010
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Executive Summary
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September 2010
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Operations
21st Century Operations Using 21st Century Technologies
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Technical Report Documentation Page
1. Report No.
FHWA-HOP-10-050 |
2. Government Accession No. |
3. Recipient's Catalog No. |
4. Title and Subtitle
BEST PRACTICES IN TRAFFIC INCIDENT MANAGEMENT |
5. Report Date
September 2010 |
6. Performing Organization Code
|
7. Author(s)
Jodi L. Carson, Ph.D., P.E. |
8. Performing Organization Report No.
|
9. Performing Organization Name and Address
Texas Transportation Institute
The Texas A&M University System
College Station, Texas 77843-3135 |
10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) |
11. Contract or Grant No.
DTFH61-06-D-0007 |
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address
Emergency Transportation Operations
Office of Transportation Operations
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590 |
13. Type of Report and Period Covered
Technical Report |
14. Sponsoring Agency Code
|
15. Supplementary Notes
Mr. Paul Jodoin (COTM), Ms. Kimberly Vasconez (COTM), and Mr. Barry Zimmer (COTR)
Project performed under contract to Battelle for the Federal Highway Administration. |
16. Abstract
Traffic incident management (TIM) is a planned and coordinated program to detect and remove incidents and restore traffic capacity as safely and quickly as possible. Over time, various tools and strategies have been developed and implemented in an effort to improve overall TIM efforts. This report describes task-specific and cross-cutting issues or challenges commonly encountered by TIM responders in the performance of their duties, and novel and/or effective strategies for overcoming these issues and challenges (i.e., best practices). Task-specific challenges may include obtaining accurate information from motorists, accessing the scene, and condemning a spilled load. Cross-cutting challenges may include interagency coordination and communication, technology procurement and deployment, and performance measurement. The reported tools and strategies for improving TIM range from sophisticated, high-technology strategies to simple, procedural strategies. Information to support this investigation was obtained through (1) a review of published and electronic information sources and (2) input from TIM personnel in Arizona, California, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Washington representing law enforcement, fire and rescue, emergency medical services, transportation, and towing and recovery agencies. For many of the individual tools and strategies, a wide range of effectiveness was reported by locale, challenging the explicit identification of best practices and suggesting that local conditions related to the nature and extent of operation, maintenance, marketing, etc. have a significant impact on the perceived or measured success of specific TIM efforts. The National Traffic Incident Management Coalition (NTIMC), in cooperation with FHWA, provides a unique forum for not only disseminating the information presented here but also for standardizing practices to consistently maximize the effectiveness of TIM efforts. |
17. Key Words
Traffic incident management, best practices, detection and verification, traveler information, response, scene management, traffic control, quick clearance, training, communications, performance measurement |
18. Distribution Statement
No restrictions. |
19. Security Classif.
(of this report)
Unclassified |
20. Security Classif.
(of this page)
Unclassified |
21. No. of Pages
123 |
22. Price |
Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized
Table of Contents
LIST OF TABLES
- Table 1 Detection and verification challenges, strategies, and select implementation locations
- Table 2 Traveler information challenges, strategies, and select implementation locations
- Table 3 Response challenges, strategies, and select implementation locations
- Table 4 Scene management and traffic control challenges, strategies, and select implementation locations
- Table 5 Quick clearance and recovery challenges, strategies, and select implementation locations
- Table 6 Example Driver Removal law publicity materials
- Table 7 Agency relations challenges, strategies, and select implementation locations
- Table 8 Training challenges, strategies, and select implementation locations
- Table 9 Communications challenges, strategies, and select implementation locations
- Table 10 Technology challenges, strategies, and select implementation locations
- Table 11 Performance measurement challenges, strategies, and select implementation locations
- Table 12 Program resources and funding challenges, strategies, and select implementation locations
- Table 13 Task-specific strategies and select implementation locations
- Table 14 Cross-cutting strategies and select implementation locations
- Table 15 Traffic Incident Management Personnel Contacts
- Table 16 Detection and verification challenges, strategies, and select implementation locations
- Table 17 Traveler information challenges, strategies, and select implementation locations
- Table 18 Response challenges, strategies, and select implementation locations
- Table 19 Scene management and traffic control challenges, strategies, and select implementation locations
- Table 20 Agency relations challenges, strategies, and select implementation locations
- Table 21 Communications challenges, strategies, and select implementation locations
- Table 22 Technology challenges, strategies, and select implementation locations
- Table 23 Performance measurement challenges, strategies, and select implementation locations
- Table 24 Program resources and funding challenges, strategies, and select implementation locations
SI* (MODERN METRIC) CONVERSION FACTORS
APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS TO SI UNITS
| Symbol |
When You Know |
Multiply By |
To Find |
Symbol |
| LENGTH |
| in |
inches |
25.4 |
millimeters |
mm |
| ft |
feet |
0.305 |
meters |
m |
| yd |
yards |
0.914 |
meters |
m |
| mi |
miles |
1.61 |
kilometers |
km |
| AREA |
| in2 |
square inches |
645.2 |
square millimeters |
mm2 |
| ft2 |
square feet |
0.093 |
square meters |
m2 |
| yd2 |
square yard |
0.836 |
square meters |
m2 |
| ac |
acres |
0.405 |
hectares |
ha |
| mi2 |
square miles |
2.59 |
square kilometers |
km2 |
| VOLUME |
| fl oz |
fluid ounces |
29.57 |
milliliters |
mL |
| gal |
gallons |
3.785 |
liters |
L |
| ft3 |
cubic feet |
0.028 |
cubic meters |
m3 |
| yd3 |
cubic yards |
0.765 |
cubic meters |
m3 |
|
NOTE: volumes greater than 1000 L shall be shown in m3 |
| MASS |
| oz |
ounces |
28.35 |
grams |
g |
| lb |
pounds |
0.454 |
kilograms |
kg |
| T |
short tons (2000 lb) |
0.907 |
megagrams (or "metric ton") |
Mg (or "t") |
| TEMPERATURE (exact degrees) |
| °F |
Fahrenheit |
5 (F-32)/9 or (F-32)/1.8 |
Celsius |
°C |
| ILLUMINATION |
| fc |
foot-candles |
10.76 |
lux |
lx |
| fl |
foot-Lamberts |
3.426 |
candela/m2 |
cd/m2 |
| FORCE and PRESSURE or STRESS |
| lbf |
poundforce |
4.45 |
newtons |
N |
| lbf/in2 |
poundforce per square inch |
6.89 |
kilopascals |
kPa |
APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS FROM SI UNITS
| Symbol |
When You Know |
Multiply By |
To Find |
Symbol |
| LENGTH |
| mm |
millimeters |
0.039 |
inches |
in |
| m |
meters |
3.28 |
feet |
ft |
| m |
meters |
1.09 |
yards |
yd |
| km |
kilometers |
0.621 |
miles |
mi |
| AREA |
| mm2 |
square millimeters |
0.0016 |
square inches |
in2 |
| m2 |
square meters |
10.764 |
square feet |
ft2 |
| m2 |
square meters |
1.195 |
square yards |
yd2 |
| ha |
hectares |
2.47 |
acres |
ac |
| km2 |
square kilometers |
0.386 |
square miles |
mi2 |
| VOLUME |
| mL |
milliliters |
0.034 |
fluid ounces |
fl oz |
| L |
liters |
0.264 |
gallons |
gal |
| m3 |
cubic meters |
35.314 |
cubic feet |
ft3 |
| m3 |
cubic meters |
1.307 |
cubic yards |
yd3 |
| MASS |
| g |
grams |
0.035 |
ounces |
oz |
| kg |
kilograms |
2.202 |
pounds |
lb |
| Mg (or "t") |
megagrams (or "metric ton") |
1.103 |
short tons (2000 lb) |
T |
| TEMPERATURE (exact degrees) |
| °C |
Celsius |
1.8C+32 |
Fahrenheit |
°F |
| ILLUMINATION |
| lx |
lux |
0.0929 |
foot-candles |
fc |
| cd/m2 |
candela/m2 |
0.2919 |
foot-Lamberts |
fl |
| FORCE and PRESSURE or STRESS |
| N |
newtons |
0.225 |
poundforce |
lbf |
| kPa |
kilopascals |
0.145 |
poundforce per square inch |
lbf/in2 |
*SI is the symbol for the International System of Units. Appropriate rounding should be made to comply with Section 4 of ASTM E380. (Revised March 2003)
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
- AAA
- American Automobile Association
- AASHTO
- American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials
- ACNS
- Automated Collision Notification Systems
- AEGIS
- Advanced Emergency Geographic Information System
- AFD
- Austin Fire Department
- AIMHigh
- Austin-Area Incident Management for Highways
- ALERT
- Arizona Local Emergency Response Team
- AMPO
- Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations
- ANSI
- American National Standards Institute
- APD
- Austin Police Department
- AR
- Arkansas
- ATIS
- Advanced Traveler Information System
- ATMS
- Advanced Traffic Management Systems
- ATSSA
- American Traffic Safety Services Association
- AVL
- Automatic Vehicle Location
- AZ
- Arizona
- CA
- California
- CAD
- Computer-Aided Dispatch
- CAMPO
- Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
- CapWIN
- Capital Wireless Information Net
- CARS
- Condition Acquisition and Reporting System
- CCTV
- Closed-Circuit Television
- CFR
- Code of Federal Regulations
- CHART
- Coordinated Highways Action Response Team
- CITE
- Consortium for ITS Training and Education
- CJSTC
- Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission
- CMAQ
- Congestion Mitigation And Air Quality
- CO
- Carbon Monoxide or Colorado
- COP
- Community of Practice
- CT
- Connecticut
- CTECC
- Combined Transportation, Emergency, and Communications Center
- DC
- District of Columbia
- DE
- Delaware
- DHS
- Department of Homeland Security
- DMS
- Dynamic Message Sign
- DPS
- Department of Public Safety
- DVRPC
- Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
- E-CAD
- Enhanced Computer-Aided Dispatch
- EMS
- Emergency Medical Services
- EOC
- Emergency Operations Center
- ERSI
- Emergency Responder Safety Institute
- ETC
- Emergency Traffic Control
- ETP
- Emergency Traffic Patrol
- FEMA
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- FHP
- Florida Highway Patrol
- FHWA
- Federal Highway Administration
- FIRST
- Freeway Incident Response Safety Team
- FL
- Florida
- FSI
- Focus State Initiative
- FSP
- Freeway Service Patrol
- GA
- Georgia
- GEMA
- Georgia Emergency Management Agency
- GIS
- Geographic Information Systems
- GJXDM
- Global Justice Xml Data Model
- GPS
- Global Positioning System
- HAR
- Highway Advisory Radio
- HC
- Hydrocarbon
- HELP
- Highway Emergency Local Patrol
- HERO
- Highway Emergency Response Operators
- IA
- Iowa
- IACP
- International Association of Chiefs Of Police
- IAFC
- International Association of Fire Chiefs
- ICS
- Incident Command System
- IDRuM
- Interactive Detour Route Mapping
- IEEE
- Institute of Electrical And Electronics Engineers, Inc.
- IL
- Illinois
- IMAP
- Incident Management Assistance Patrol
- IMCC
- Incident Management Coordinating Committee
- IMRT
- Incident Management Response Team
- IN
- Indiana
- IN-TIME
- Indiana Traffic Incident Management Effort
- ISEA
- International Safety Equipment Association
- ITS
- Intelligent Transportation Systems
- JOPS
- Joint Operations Policy Statement
- KY
- Kentucky
- LA
- Louisiana
- M&O
- Management and Operations
- MA
- Massachusetts
- MCCV
- Mobile Command/Communications Vehicle
- MD
- Maryland
- ME
- Maine
- MI
- Michigan
- MN
- Minnesota
- MO
- Missouri
- MOT
- Maintenance of Traffic
- MPO
- Metropolitan Planning Organization
- MS
- Mississippi
- MUTCD
- Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways
- NC
- North Carolina
- NCHRP
- National Cooperative Highway Research Program
- NCTCOG
- North Central Texas Council of Governments
- NEMA
- National Electrical Manufacturers Association
- NFPA
- National Fire Protection Association
- NG 9-1-1
- Next Generation 9-1-1
- NH
- New Hampshire
- NHI
- National Highway Institute
- NHTSA
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NIJ
- National Institute of Justice
- NIMS
- National Incident Management System
- NJ
- New Jersey
- NM
- New Mexico
- NOx
- Nitrous Oxide
- NTIMC
- National Traffic Incident Management Coalition
- NUG
- National Unified Goal
- NV
- Nevada
- NVFC
- National Volunteer Fire Council
- NY
- New York
- NYSP
- New York State Police
- OEMC
- Office of Emergency Management and Communications
- OH
- Ohio
- OR
- Oregon
- OSHA
- Occupation Safety and Health Administration
- PA
- Pennsylvania
- POST
- Police Officers Standards and Training
- PSAP
- Public Safety Answering Point
- REACT
- Regional Emergency Action Coordinating Team
- RI
- Rhode Island
- RISC
- Roadway Incident Scene Clearance
- RoIP
- Radio-Over-Internet Protocol
- RTSC
- Responsive Traffic Signal Control Systems
- SC
- South Carolina
- SEWCRSG
- Southeast Wisconsin Communications Resource/Support Group
- SHRP
- Strategic Highway Research Program
- SIRV
- Severe Incident Response Vehicle
- SMRPC
- Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission
- SOPs
- Standard Operating Procedures
- SQC
- Safe, Quick Clearance
- TCLEOSE
- Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education
- TCME
- Travis County Office of the Medical Examiner
- TERI
- Transportation Emergency Response Institute
- TIM
- Traffic Incident Management
- TIME
- Traffic Incident Management Enhancement
- TIMSA
- Traffic Incident Management Self-Assessment
- TMC
- Traffic Management Center
- TN
- Tennessee
- TRAA
- Towing and Recovery Association of America
- TSSE
- Total Station Surveying Equipment
- TTY
- Text Telephone
- TX
- Texas
- U.S.
- United States
- UDOT
- Utah Department of Transportation
- URM
- Unified Response Manual
- USDOJ
- U.S. Department of Justice
- USDOT
- U.S. Department of Transportation
- UT
- Utah
- VA
- Virginia
- VDOT
- Virginia Department of Transportation
- WA
- Washington
- WaTIMCo
- Washington's Traffic Incident Management Coalition
- WI
- Wisconsin
- WSDOT
- Washington Department of Transportation
- WSP
- Washington State Patrol
September 2010
FHWA-HOP-10-050
|
