Traffic Incident Response Practices in Europe

Hawkins, Gene; Helman, David; Brewster, Rebecca; Corbin, John; Conrad, John; deVries, Henry; Jones, Gregory M.; McGinnis, Kevin; Moore, Ron; Olson, Mark; Tibbits, Larry; Zezeski, Michael · 2006 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration

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Summary

This report documents a 2005 international technology scanning study sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP). The study addresses the significant impact of traffic incidents on congestion and safety, noting that incidents cause 50 to 60 percent of nonrecurring congestion in U.S. urban areas and pose severe safety risks to responders. The primary objective was to evaluate traffic incident response (TIR) practices, procedures, and technologies in England, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden to identify innovations that could enhance U.S. incident management effectiveness. A multidisciplinary team of 12 U.S. specialists, representing transportation agencies, police, fire departments, emergency medical services (EMS), trucking, and research, conducted a two-week field scan in April 2005. The team met with approximately 30 organizations across the four host countries, including road authorities, emergency responders, automobile clubs, and recovery providers. The methodology involved observing onscene operations, reviewing institutional structures, and analyzing communication technologies. The team focused on post-detection response activities, interagency coordination, clearance procedures, and the roles of private-sector entities. The study identified several common attributes among European TIR systems that differ from U.S. practices. Key findings include the presence of a national authority coordinating incident response, clear single-agency police jurisdiction at incident scenes, and coordinated training for all major responders. European systems also feature national transportation agencies with traffic patrols, high-level EMS coordination (including helicopter transport and onscene doctors), and robust private-sector involvement through national auto clubs that provide rapid roadside repairs and towing. These auto clubs reduce the burden on public service patrols by handling minor incidents efficiently. Additionally, recovery companies in some countries are contracted by road agencies with strict performance criteria. Based on these observations, the team developed 25 recommendations for potential implementation in the United States, aligned with the focus areas of the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition (NTIMC). Recommendations regarding programs and institutions include adopting a national unified goal for incident response, developing national performance measures, and integrating practitioner and research perspectives. Tactical recommendations address onscene safety, such as improving high-visibility garments, establishing buffer zones, enhancing response vehicle visibility, and setting clearance time targets. Communications recommendations focus on coordinating traffic information centers and improving interagency communication practices. The report concludes that adopting these structured, coordinated, and performance-driven approaches can significantly improve safety for responders and mobility for road users in the United States.

Key finding

The study identified common European attributes including national coordinating authorities, clear police jurisdiction, coordinated training, and significant private-sector involvement through auto clubs, leading to 25 recommendations for U.S. implementation.

Methodology

field_study

Sample size: 12

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

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• emergency work zone conspicuity