Benefit Cost Analysis of Accelerated Incident Clearance

This study examined the current state of the incident management industry in the US by reviewing the available published literature, and by launching a nationwide survey of multiple incident management agencies. The study also evaluated the specific impact of traffic incidents on both motorists and the environment on South Carolina freeways by using traffic simulation and benefit-cost analysis. Survey responses revealed that technologies such as traffic cameras, dispatched personnel, and freeway service patrols were the most successful in detecting and verifying incidents. Responses also emphasized the importance of effective institutional coordination, and communication to both the public and decision makers for a successful incident management program. Through traffic simulation analysis, researchers examined the effectiveness of traffic sensors, traffic cameras, freeway service patrols, a multiple-strategy approach, a Steer-it Clear-it law, and route diversion. Results of the benefit-cost analysis indicated that using traffic sensors, traffic cameras, freeway service patrols, and a combination of these strategies with an incident report hot line, produced $7, $12, $11, and $8 of benefit for each dollar invested, respectively. The Steer-it Clear-it scenario produced approximately $22 for each dollar invested if all drivers were aware of and obeyed the law. The route diversion strategy, evaluated for severe crashes, produced approximately $55 for every dollar invested with 100 percent compliance rate.

• Record URL:
  http://www.clemson.edu/t3s/scdot/pdf/projects/SPR%20659.pdf
• Record URL:
  http://www.clemson.edu/t3s/scdot/pdf/projects/Summary%20655.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  South Carolina Department of Transportation

  1406 Shop Road
  Columbia, SC  United States  29201

  Clemson University

  Department of Civil Engineering
  Clemson, SC  United States  29634

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Chowdhury, Mashrur A
  • Fries, Ryan
  • Ma, Yongchang
  • Dunning, Anne E
  • Hamlin, Carol
  • Ozbay, Kaan
  • Ogle, Jennifer H
  • Sarasua, Wayne
• Publication Date: 2007-4-14

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 88p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Compliance; Highway law; Incident management; Investments; Personnel; Technology; Traffic diversion; Traffic simulation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Incident clearance time
• Geographic Terms: South Carolina
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01090548
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-SC-07-01
• Contract Numbers: SPR 659
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 21 2008 8:48AM