Impact of Red Lights on Incident Response Time

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) recently gained approval to install flashing red lights on certain incident management coordinator (IMC) and safety service patrol (SSP) vehicles over a 2-year transition period; previously only amber lights were permitted. Although this does not constitute full emergency vehicle permissions (such as the ability to violate red lights on traffic signals), the flashing red lights may encourage motorists to pull to the shoulder. This may improve VDOT’s incident response during congestion. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of IMC flashing red lights on incident response, with an emphasis on changes in incident response time and clearance time. The findings will help VDOT make informed decision on incident management strategies/investment, including the decision on whether to pursue additional emergency vehicle privileges for IMC/SSP vehicles.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $242 616
• Contract Numbers:

  124061

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Virginia Transportation Research Council

  530 Edgemont Road
  Charlottesville, VA  United States  22903
• Performing Organizations:

  Virginia Transportation Research Council

  530 Edgemont Road
  Charlottesville, VA  United States  22903
• Principal Investigators:

  Zhao, Mo

  Appiah, Justice

• Start Date: 20230715
• Expected Completion Date: 20250630
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Emergency response time; Emergency vehicles; Incident management; Traffic safety; Vehicle lighting devices
• Geographic Terms: Virginia
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01887182
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Virginia Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 124061
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 11 2023 11:00AM