Communication and Technology Strengths
Traffic management centres are in use in all cities and are able to provide a very effective coordination role, utilizing traffic system and intelligent transport systems information, including video from CCTV cameras.
Most cities have a reasonable level of intelligent transport systems infrastructure for detection, surveillance and monitoring traffic incidents, including traffic control systems such as SCATS, loop detectors, emergency telephones, traffic hotlines and CCTV cameras.Communications is currently handled well in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide through shared systems with emergency services. The Sydney TMC is the only one with police agency personnel, which results in good inter-agency communications.
Data and video information is being transferred between agencies in some cities, primarily between the road and traffic agency and police, to assist in deploying an appropriate response.
Most road and traffic agencies have developed or are developing policies and procedures for traffic management during major incidents, particularly diversion plans and altered signal timings.
Communication and Technology Challenges
Communications between incident responders are not well handled in most areas, requiring relaying of messages through a central control centre, or a series of centres and use of mobile phones as a primary means of communication.
While there are initiatives in providing traveller information, such as regularly update recorded messages on telephone hotlines and internet websites, there is limited real-time traffic incident-specific information available. Only Melbourne and Perth provide motorists with travel time estimates for some key route segments.
Intelligent transport systems coverage of the major traffic network in most cities is still limited and further resourcing is required to enable a reasonable level of coverage of the high traffic network. Limited use is made of traffic management systems for automatic incident detection and congestion alarms, as well as automated incident response protocols and decision support systems. The network of variable message signs has limited deployment across the city networks, resulting in limited opportunities to provide traveller information.
Available technology applications that can speed response and quicker clearance of incidents, such as photogrammetry and digital photographs for crash investigation is not being utilized and most areas still have challenges in sharing data on despatch of police response units, providing traffic information etc.
Program and institutional issues (strategy and programs, resourcing, performance measurement, institutional arrangements) was covered in Part 1. Part 2 covers operational areas (procedures for major incidents, responder and motorist safety, response and clearance policies and procedures).
Download Austroads Report AP-297/07 Review of Current Traffic Incident Management Practices.
