Lesson
Utilize well-equipped safety service patrols to assist highway motorists after vehicle malfunctions or crashes, and to coordinate a safe and efficient response.
Testimonials of the benefits of safety service patrols from staff of several state DOTs, travelers, and others.
1/1/1999
Chicago,Illinois,United States; Atlanta,Georgia,United States; Houston,Texas,United States; Minneapolis,Minnesota,United States; San Jose,California,United States; San Francisco,California,United States; Virginia,United States; Washington,United States
Background (Show)
Lesson Learned
- Safety service patrols keep affected motorists safe after incidents, minimize the disruption of incidents to other traffic and prevent secondary incidents, and maximize traffic flow. They also coordinate the necessary response.
- Safety service patrols are a cost-effective component of a traffic management system, providing tremendous savings with a relatively low investment.
- Safety service patrols help stranded motorists and earn taxpayer satisfaction, garnering letters and telephone calls of praise for the state DOT.
- Outfitting these patrols with ITS tools such as automatic vehicle location devices, global positioning system receivers, cell phones, lighted arrow boards, and mobile variable message signs allows them to reach trouble spots more quickly and then manage traffic better and coordinate the response more effectively.
Application Areas
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Traffic Incident Management > Mobilization & Response > Automatic Vehicle Location / Computer-Aided Dispatch
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Emergency Management > Response & Recovery > Response Management
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Traffic Incident Management > Mobilization & Response > Service Patrols
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Traffic Incident Management > Information Dissemination > Dynamic Message Signs
Intelligent Transportation Systems > Traffic Incident Management > Clearance & Recovery > Temporary Traffic Control
Countries
Systems Engineering
Show the V
None defined
Focus Areas
Major Initiatives > Mobility Services for All Americans
Major Initiatives > Integrated Corridor Management Systems
Major Initiatives > Emergency Transportation Operations
Other Program Activities > Amber Alert
Other Program Activities > Public Safety
Other Program Activities > Rural ITS Deployment
Goal Areas
Keywords
automated vehicle location, computer aided dispatch, automatic vehicle locator, AVL, CAD, AVL/CAD, freeway service patrol, courtesy patrols, highway helpers, freeway service patrols, DMS, CMS, VMS, Changeable Message Signs, Variable Message Signs
Lesson Comments
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