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Guide for Emergency Transportation Operations (2005) / Chapter Skim
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Driving Forces
Pages 8-13

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From page 8...
... that introduces safety risks and traffic disruptions, requiring extraordinary emergency operations for emergency access and speedy recovery. Terrorist threats add to this urgency and introduce the need to anticipate weapons of mass destruction (WMD)
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From page 9...
... ETO implications vary significantly depending on the nature of the emergency event. Table 1 provides a high-level summary of five major categories of ETO events, arranged from the most to least predictable.
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From page 10...
... Planned Activities − Special event − Work zone − Amber alert − Crime control − Civil disturbance • Law enforcement actions are underway • Coordinate enforcement traffic control procedures • Traffic backups, delays, and accident exposure take place quickly • Reduced detection and response time is critical • Establish quick clearance policies among agencies • Improve public safety/DOT communications • Medical treatment can cause delays • Install advanced medical communications • Cargo spills, HAZMAT disruptions are possible • Formalize on-call special equipment and expertise • Large combination of vehicles may be involved • Formalize on-call special towing rigs 2. Traffic Incidents − Break-down − Crash (major/minor)
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From page 11...
... Responsibilities for ETO are currently divided among state and local jurisdictions, and while state DOTs typically own most of the upper-level roadway network, there are wide variations including some states with significant local government ownership of highways. Within state DOTs and their local counterparts, the responsibilities are often fragmented and fuzzy.
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From page 12...
... Furthermore, the key DOT contributions in detection, surveillance, and traffic management are not consistently integrated into the incident command protocols to have their full potential effect in reducing response and clearance times. The NIMS is now focusing on a more integrated approach with joint preparedness activities including planning, training, standard procedures, channels for communication and information sharing, the use of incident command, standard technology, and mechanisms for resource management.
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From page 13...
... Serious analysis of the practical problems faced in the field and potential improvement strategies are only just beginning. In addition, there is no accepted state of the practice by which to judge the quality of public agency performance related to the management of roadway emergencies of all types.
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Key Terms

  • state dots
  • incident management
  • public safety
  • traffic incident
  • traffic incidents

  • clearance times
  • emergency response
  • traffic control
  • incident command
  • safety agencies

  • local government
  • safety community
  • safety risks
  • eto events
  • life safety

  • state dot
  • control procedures
  • nonrecurring congestion
  • law enforcement
  • formal incident

  • incident responders
  • traffic disruptions
  • incident queues
  • traffic management
  • traffic backups

  • state highway
  • require emergency
  • emergency access
  • incident characteristics
  • incident response


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