Traffic Incident Management Handbook
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Traffic Incident Management Handbook Prepared for: Federal Highway Administration Office of Travel Management Prepared by: PB Farradyne November 2000 Traffic Incident Management Handbook Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION TO INCIDENT MANAGEMENT.................................................1-1 1.1 PURPOSE........................................................................................................1-1 1.2 ORGANIZATION................................................................................................1-2 1.3 THE PROBLEM.................................................................................................1-2 1.3.1 Safety Implications of Incidents..................................................................1-3 1.3.2 Congestion.................................................................................................1-4 1.4 INCIDENT TYPES..............................................................................................1-5 1.5 INCIDENT MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES..................................................................1-7 1.5.1 Detection....................................................................................................1-7 1.5.2 Verification.................................................................................................1-7 1.5.3 Motorist Information....................................................................................1-8 1.5.4 Response...................................................................................................1-8 1.5.5 Site Management.......................................................................................1-9 1.5.6 Traffic Management...................................................................................1-9 1.5.7 Clearance.................................................................................................1-10 1.6 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES........................................................................1-10 1.6.1 Law Enforcement.....................................................................................1-10 1.6.2 Fire and Rescue.......................................................................................1-10 1.6.3 Emergency Medical Services (EMS)........................................................1-11 1.6.4 Transportation Agencies...........................................................................1-12 1.6.5 Towing and Recovery Service Providers..................................................1-13 1.6.6 Media.......................................................................................................1-13 1.6.7 Information Service Providers (ISPs)........................................................1-14 1.6.8 Coroners and Medical Examiners.............................................................1-14 1.6.9 Hazardous Materials.................................................................................1-14 1.7 IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT............................................1-14 1.7.1 Review Goals and Objectives...................................................................1-15 1.7.2 Evaluate Current Efforts...........................................................................1-15 1.7.3 Establish Standards.................................................................................1-15 1.7.4 Assess Training Programs........................................................................1-15 2 ORGANIZING, PLANNING, AND DESIGNING AN INCIDENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM..................................................................................................................2-1 2.1 STEPS IN DEVELOPING AN INCIDENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM............................2-1 2.1.1 Prologue to the Process: Getting the Players to the Table..........................2-2 2.2 THE BASIC 8-STEP INCIDENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT PROCESS2-4 2.2.1 Define the Problem.....................................................................................2-5 2.2.2 Set Goals and Objectives...........................................................................2-7 2.2.3 Develop Alternatives...................................................................................2-9 2.2.4 Evaluate Alternatives................................................................................2-13 2.2.5 Select Alternatives....................................................................................2-14 2.2.6 Implement Alternatives.............................................................................2-14 2.2.7 Reevaluate Alternatives............................................................................2-16 2.2.8 Refine the System....................................................................................2-16 2.3 ELEMENTS OF SUCCESSFUL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS.....................2-17 2.3.1 Elements of Successful Incident Management Programs: People............2-17 i Traffic Incident Management Handbook 2.3.2 Elements of Successful Incident Management Programs: Infrastructure and Operational Strategies........................................................................................2-20 2.3.3 Elements of Successful Incident Management Programs.........................2-36 2.4 INCIDENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM BENEFITS..................................................2-44 2.4.1 Quantitative Benefits................................................................................2-44 2.4.2 Qualitative Benefits..................................................................................2-46 3 OPERATIONAL AND TECHNICAL APPROACHES TO IMPROVING THE INCIDENT MANAGEMENT PROCESS.......................................................................3-1 3.1 PURPOSE........................................................................................................3-1 3.1.1 Intelligent Transportation System (ITS).......................................................3-1 3.2 DETECTION.....................................................................................................3-2 3.2.1 Techniques.................................................................................................3-2 3.3 VERIFICATION..................................................................................................3-5 3.3.1 Techniques.................................................................................................3-5 3.4 MOTORIST INFORMATION.................................................................................3-7 3.4.1 Techniques.................................................................................................3-7 3.5 RESPONSE....................................................................................................3-12 3.5.1 Techniques...............................................................................................3-12 3.6 SITE MANAGEMENT........................................................................................3-15 3.6.1 Objectives................................................................................................3-16 3.6.2 Techniques...............................................................................................3-16 3.7 TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT..................................................................................3-23 3.7.1 Preparing for Effective Traffic Management..............................................3-25 3.7.2 Improve Traffic Flow Past the Incident......................................................3-27 3.7.3 Improve Traffic Flow on Alternate Routes.................................................3-29 3.8 CLEARANCE..................................................................................................3-32 3.8.1 On Site Clearance Planning.....................................................................3-32 3.8.2 Clearance Techniques..............................................................................3-32 3.8.3 Towing Company Issues..........................................................................3-34 3.8.4 Wrecker Service Contracting....................................................................3-36 3.8.5 Removal of Truck Cargo...........................................................................3-37 3.8.6 Accident Investigations.............................................................................3-37 3.8.7 Ordinances Relating To Incident Removal................................................3-39 3.9 SUMMARY..................................................................................................3-41 APPENDIX A – REFERENCES..................................................................................A-1 APPENDIX B – EXAMPLE MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING............................B-1 APPENDIX C – MODEL TOWING AGREEMENT.......................................................C-1 ii Traffic Incident Management Handbook List of Figures Figure 1-1: Fixed tow-trucks using multiple lanes to upright tractor-trailer ....................1-2 Figure 1-2: Congestion from even minor incidents can be significant ...........................1-4 Figure 1-3: Disabled vehicle being attended to by DOT service patrol .........................1-5 Figure 1-4: Composit Profile of Reported Incident by Type ..........................................1-6 Figure 1-5: Infrastrucutre damage can occur that requires timely reponse ...................1-8 Figure 1-6: Crash victim being airlifted from incident scene........................................1-11