MOTORISTS' NEEDS AND SERVICES ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS

A DIGEST IS PRESENTED OF A NATIONWIDE INVESTIGATION ON MOTORISTS' NEEDS AND SERVICES ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. THE FOLLOWING SERVICES WERE INVESTIGATED: (1) EMERGENCY-SERVICES THAT THE MOTORIST NEEDS BECAUSE OF ACCIDENTS, BREAKDOWNS, OR ANY OTHER UNEXPECTED CIRCUMSTANCES, (2) NORMAL-SERVICES SUCH AS GASOLINE, FOOD, AND LODGING, AND (3) SUPPLEMENTAL - DESIRABLE SERVICES AS REST AREAS, ADEQUATE INFORMATION, AND A CHOICE AMONG SERVICE TYPES, PRICES, BRAND NAMES, ETC. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT STEPS BE TAKEN TO MAKE GASOLINE AVAILABLE FOR 24 HOURS A DAY AND THAT SERVICE INFORMATION BE DISPLAYED IN REST AREAS. ONE SPECIFIC METHOD OF PRESENTING THIS SERVICE INFORMATION COULD UTILIZE STANDARD MAP BOARDS INSTALLED IN REST AREAS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT AN OPERATIONAL STUDY BE CONDUCTED OF: (1) THE POSSIBILITY OF USING STOL-TYPE AIRCRAFT FOR PATROL OF RURAL INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS, (2) BETTER USE OF EXISTING GROUND VEHICLES AND PERSONNEL, (3) USE OF VTOL-TYPE AIRCRAFT FOR EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE, AND (4) USE OF THE PASSING MOTORIST AS A COMMUNICATIONS CHANNEL. CONCLUSION IS MADE THAT EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE REASONABLY ADEQUATE ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS IN DENSELY POPULATED OR HIGH AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC AREAS, BUT ARE A PROBLEM IN RURAL AREAS WHERE AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC IS LOW.

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  • Publication Date: 1969-1

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  • Accession Number: 00225460
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Mar 18 1994 12:00AM