Information sharing for traffic incident management.

Birenbaum, Ingrid · 2009 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Operations

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Summary

This report, published by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in 2009, addresses the critical role of information sharing in Traffic Incident Management (TIM). The research is motivated by the increasing frequency and severity of highway incidents, which pose significant safety risks to motorists and responders, particularly through rising "struck-by" secondary incidents. The primary objective is to identify the information needs of public and private incident responders and describe effective methods for obtaining and sharing data to ensure safe, quick clearance of incidents. The document aims to support the FHWA’s mission to safeguard the motoring public and responders by promoting coordinated multi-agency operations supported by integrated communications. The report synthesizes existing research, best practices, and case studies, drawing heavily on National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 520. It categorizes information exchange into four modes: face-to-face, remote voice, electronic text, and other media/advanced systems. The analysis examines information collection and distribution within the context of the incident timeline, from detection to clearance. It also evaluates institutional frameworks, specifically the Incident Command System (ICS) and Unified Command (UC), which provide standardized structures for multi-agency coordination. The study identifies administrative, operational, and technological barriers to information exchange and proposes strategies to overcome them, such as inter-agency memoranda of understanding and shared facility co-location. Key findings indicate that successful TIM relies on overcoming organizational and institutional barriers through cooperative partnerships. The report highlights that face-to-face communication remains the most common and effective method for on-scene coordination, while remote voice tools (landlines, wireless phones, land mobile radios) facilitate rapid adjustments to changing conditions. Electronic text systems, such as Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and email, allow for broad, quick dissemination of information to responders and the public. Advanced technologies, including Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) with closed-circuit television and sensors, enhance incident verification and resource dispatch accuracy. The use of Unified Command is shown to improve interagency cooperation by establishing a single set of objectives and improving information flow across jurisdictions. The significance of this work lies in its provision of a comprehensive framework for improving responder safety and traffic mobility. By detailing specific information sharing practices and barriers, the report offers actionable guidance for TIM practitioners. It emphasizes that while technology aids interoperability, the foundation of effective information sharing is the commitment of stakeholders to cooperative partnerships. The findings support the development of mature TIM programs that reduce incident duration, minimize secondary crashes, and restore normal traffic flow efficiently. This document serves as a primer for transportation professionals, providing the building blocks for integrated communications essential to modern traffic incident management.

Key finding

Successful traffic incident management relies on integrated communications and the adoption of the Incident Command System to overcome institutional and technological barriers between public safety and transportation agencies.

Methodology

review

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