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Best Practices for Road Weather Management Version 2.0

Best Practices > Publications > Publication Titles

Title:

Evaluation of Automated Weather Detection and Motorist Warning Systems for Fog-Related Incidents in the Tampa Bay Area

Abstract:

This report identifies and compares various components of automatic visibility detection/motorist warning systems in operation. The report also describes a focused driver awareness campaign to reduce fog-related crashes, since the Tampa Bay area was found to exhibit no particular fog-prone or fog-crash-prone areas. The Tampa Bay area typically has about 22 heavy fog days annually when visibility is 1/4 mile or less. This condition tends to routinely occur primarily between December and February in the Tampa Bay area. Between 1987-1995, 829 fog-related crashes were reported in the Tampa Bay area and 6,323 statewide. This represents 0.30 and 0.32 percent of the total reported crashes in Tampa Bay and the state, respectively. Crash report sites have been scattered throughout the Tampa Bay area during this same period, and only the "fog season" can be identified. About 12 states have been formally engaged in detection and warning system evaluation related to fog, and several have invested $2-4 million for integrated visibility/weather and motorist warning systems. However, the benefits for deployment of such systems have not been documented.

Source(s):

ITS America 8th Annual Meeting; University of Sourh Florida, Center For Urban Transportation Research (CUTR)

http://www.cutr.usf.edu/research/fog.pdf

Date: 1998

Author:

Pietrzyk

Keywords:


Crashes
Safety
Benefits
Costs
Environmental Sensor Station (ESS)
Motorist warning system
Weather information
Traveler information
Visibility

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