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ACCIDENT REPORTING AND CLEARANCE PROCEDURES ON THE GULF FREEWAY

A RESEARCH PROJECT ON FREEWAY CONTROL AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESULTED IN THIS STUDY OF THE FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF PROCEDURES FOR THE CLEARING OF DISABLED VEHICLES FROM THE FREEWAY. THERE ARE TWO GENERAL CAUSES OF CONGESTION AT A REDUCED CAPACITY SCENE: (1) THE PHYSICAL BLOCKAGE OF TRAFFIC LANES, AND (2) THE DISTRACTION OF THE MOTORISTS CREATED BY THE ACTIVITY AROUND AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM DISCUSSED IS THE REMOVAL OF DISABLED VEHICLES FROM THE ROADWAY AFTER THE ARRIVAL OF A POLICE UNIT. THE EFFECT ON TRAFFIC FLOW OF TWO SITUATIONS WAS DETERMINED: (1) AN ACCIDENT BLOCKING ONE TRAFFIC LANE, AND (2) VEHICLES INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT PARKED ON THE FREEWAY SHOULDER. TRAFFIC FLOW DATA COLLECTED AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE SHOWS THE AVERAGE FLOW WAS 45.3 VEHICLES PER MINUTE OR 49 PERCENT OF NORMAL FLOW. THE REMOVAL OF THE ACCIDENT OT THE FREEWAY SHOULDER RESULTED IN A FLOW OF 72.8 VEHICLES PER MINUTE, ONLY 78 PERCENT OF NORMAL FLOW. SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC FLOW AND SAFETY PROGRAMS CAN BE REALIZED BY POLICE IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WHICH EXPEDITE THE REMOVAL OF DISABLED VEHICLES FROM FREEWAYS. FURTHER BENEFITS CAN BE GAINED BY REMOVING THE VEHICLES TO A LOCATION SCREENED FROM THE VIEW OF FREEWAY DRIVERS. ANY POLICY WHICH CAN REDUCE THE TIME REQUIRED FOR DETECTION OF AN ACCIDENT, DISPATCH AND TRAVEL OF POLICE, AND ACCIDENT CLEARANCE FROM THE FREEWAY, WILL ACHIEVE SUBSTANTIAL GAINS IN MOTORISTIS' BENEFITS.

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Res Rept No 139-1, 14 PP, 10 FIG
  • Corporate Authors:

    Texas Transportation Institute

    Texas A&M University System, 1600 E Lamar Boulevard
    Arlington, TX  United States  76011
  • Authors:
    • Goolsby, M E
  • Publication Date: 1969-9

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00220683
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Mar 15 1971 12:00AM