PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSIVENESS TO, AND ON-SITE MANAGEMENT OF HIGHWAY INCIDENTS

THE NEW HIGHWAY SAFETY STANDARD FOR DEBRIS HAZARD CONTROL AND CLEANUP WIDENS THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE MANY HIGHWAY SAFETY EFFORTS. A BRIEF REVIEW IS PRESENTED OF THE 16 HIGHWAY SAFETY STANDARDS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. THESE STANDARDS APPLY TO A WIDE RANGE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY FUNCTIONS. THE STANDARD ON DEBRIS HAZARD CONTROL AND CLEANUP IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FOR THE ASSIGNMENT OF OFFICIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AT HIGHWAY INCIDENTS SITES; TO PROVIDE FOR THE PLANNING, TRAINING, CO- ORDINATION, AND COMMUNICATIONS NECESSARY TO RECOGNIZE, REPORT, AND PROMPTLY CORRECT INCIDENTS OR CONDITIONS THAT CONSTITUTE POTENTIAL DANGERS TO MOTORISTS OR THE GENERAL PUBLIC; AND TO PROVIDE FOR RESTORING INCIDENT SITES TO A SAFE CONDITION AND FOR EXPEDITING THE NORMAL FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE STANDARD CALLS FOR EACH STATE TO HAVE A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES OCCUPATIONAL PROCEDURES FOR ENABLING RESCUE AND SALVAGE EQUIPMENT PERSONNEL TO GET TO THE SCENE OF ACCIDENTS RAPIDLY AND TO OPERATE EFFECTIVELY ON ARRIVAL. PLANNING PROVISIONS OF THE DEBRIS HAZARD CONTROL AND CLEANUP STANDARD PROVIDES FOR STATES TO MAKE A DETAILED STUDY OF THEIR PRESENT SYSTEM, CONSIDER THE ASSIGNMENT OF AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY, AND IDENTIFY SPECIFIC OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS. SUCH OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, CONTROL CENTER, DISPATCH POINTS, CROSS -MONITORING CAPABILITY, AND BACKUP PROVISIONS. THE TYPICAL SEQUENCE OF ACTIVITIES IN A DEBRIS HAZARD CONTROL AND CLEAN- UP SITUATION IS DETECTION, NOTIFICATION, RESPONSE, RESTORA- TION, AND RESUMPTION OF TRAFFIC MOVEMENT. THESE ACTIVITIES ARE DISCUSSED. MAXIMUM EFFECTIVENESS WILL BE OBTAINED WHEN ALL PERSONNEL IN THE RELATED SERVICES AND AGENCIES OPERATE INCIDENTS FROM OCCURRING. THE RESULTS OF THESE EFFORTS BY STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS SHOULD BE REDUCTIONS IN CRASHES, DELAY, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, AND ECONOMIC LOSSES.

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  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
  • Corporate Authors:

    Highway Research Board (HRB)

    Washington, DC   
  • Authors:
    • Pavlinski, Lawrence A
  • Conference:
  • Publication Date: 1970

Media Info

  • Media Type: Print
  • Features: References;
  • Pagination: pp 6-11
  • Monograph Title: Highway safety
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00220863
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
  • Created Date: Jul 21 1970 12:00AM