Citation

Ggrenzeback L, Woodle C. ITE J. 1992; 62(3): 16-20.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, Institute of Transportation Engineers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Incidents are a major cause of urban highway congestion. A Federal Highway Administration study found that freeway congestion in 37 of the largest metropolitan areas of the country was responsible for 2 billion vehicle hours of delay at a cost of $16 billion. The article discusses incidents, their management, detection, response, clearance, and recovery. The major impediments to the development of better metropolitan incident management programs are organizational and institutional. The problem is compounded by a lack of understanding of the costs involved. It is pointed out that commitment is needed to address the problem and take advantage of the knowledge, skills and technology that already exist. States must mandate the development of comprehensive metropolitan incident management programs, and the motor carrier industry must support federal and state programs. The federal government must recognize the importance of such programs, and of traffic management in general.