Safety

VicRoads, which is the State road authority for the Australian State of Victoria, has implemented a
successful trial of an emergency vehicle priority system at traffic signals on a strategic corridor in
the south east of Melbourne. Seven locally-based emergency services vehicles (Victoria Police,
Metropolitan Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Ambulance Service) were fitted with mobile infrared
transmitters (emitters). The emitters produce a strobing light of a pre-determined frequency. The
light from the emitter is not visible or in any way harmful to road users. Key approaches at five
intersections on the trial corridor were fitted with receivers. These receivers detect the approach of
an activated emitter. On receipt of this detection, a call for a special emergency vehicle phase is
activated through SCATS which is Melbourne’s traffic signal system. The trial was commissioned
in March 2003. Testing of the system has been conducted and the results are very encouraging. The
results indicate the system is operating in accordance with the system parameters with an
acceptable level of priority achieved for emergency services vehicles during ‘urgent duty driving’.
Victoria Police are evaluating the system from an emergency vehicle driver’s perspective for the
three emergency services participating in the trial. VicRoads is considering expansion of the
system to other routes as well as adapting the technology to other related applications such as
public transport priority.

VicRoads, Australia

Presented at the 12th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, November 6-10, 2005, San Francisco, California

The new telematic-based road traffic control technologies enable the application of a large
number of various control strategies. Ranging from the fix-time control to adaptive control
there is a whole series of combined strategies that eventually depend only on the skills of the
traffic expert who by choosing traffic parameters realizes for a certain traffic demand in the
given physical conditions, the optimum of throughput capacity and safety.
Sometimes this is a difficult task and does not always lead to the desired results.
The fact is that experience and practice with the implementation of advanced technologies
have the best chance of achieving the best possible results.
The work shows an example of adaptive control and the safety results "before" and "after" at
an intersection in the City of Zagreb.

Transport and Traffic Engineering, Zagreb, Croatia

Presented at the 12th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, November 6-10, 2005, San Francisco, California

In Göteborg The Swedish Road Administration (SRA) currently has 3 major tunnel systems in
operation, a 4:th is under construction and a 5:th is currently being planned. These are the
Gnistängstunnel, the Tingstadstunnel and the Lundbytunnel. In 2006 the new Götatunnel will
also begin operation. This new tunnel will stretch under large parts of central Göteborg. Some
300 000 vehicles will then pass through these systems every day, much of it heavy vehicles.
The Traffic Control Center (TIC) in Göteborg run by the SRA monitors the tunnel systems
twenty-four hours a day. Training and exercises are carried out continuously to ensure both staff
competence and the operational security and stability of the technical system.
One important element in this training are live fire exercises and another is a tunnel simulator
developed over a couple of years and put in use during 2004. The simulator is used continuously
in training TIC staff as an integrated part of their daily job. Live fire exercises, due to their
complexity, are carried out once a year rotating through all the tunnels.

Swedish Road Administration

Presented at the 12th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, November 6-10, 2005, San Francisco, California

In order to develop a better understanding of work zone traffic control problems, traffic crashes
statistics in work zones on urban arterial streets in Texas were collected and analyzed. The
objectives of the analyses were to determine major accident types, factors contributing, as well as
other characteristics, which can support development of traffic control improvement solutions.
The analysis showed two major groups of contributing factors. The first group that contributed to
around 34% of crashes includes conscious violations by drivers, such as driving while
intoxicated and speeding. From traffic engineering perspective the second group, such as
disregarding signs, failure to yield right-of-way, and improper maneuvering, contributing to
around 64% of investigated crashes, are of major importance. While drivers can commit such
violations consciously, they can also be due to inadequate perception of traffic situations, caused
by insufficient or missing information. The analyses highlight the potential for improvements of
work zone traffic control planning and The findings of the accident statistic analysis were
integrated with field observation findings and investigations of driver behavior (not discussed in
this paper), and support the recommendations for work zone signing and traffic control device
location, better suited to human abilities and behavior.

The University of Texas at Austin, USA

Presented at the 12th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, November 6-10, 2005, San Francisco, California

With the planned 5-year reconstruction of I-235 through the Des Moines area, the Iowa
Department of Transportation (DOT) placed high priority on developing and maintaining an
effective program to manage traffic conditions and handle highway incidents within the Region
during reconstruction activities. The DOT received support for the development of a Traffic
Management System of cameras, dynamic message boards, sensors, and other traveler
information systems. Coordination/sharing of traveler information with local agencies and the
public was a priority. During 2004/2005, the field hardware (80 sensor devices, 44 cameras, 26
DMS- permanent and portable) was installed and tested. In addition, a Highway Advisory Radio
(HAR) system and TripGuide website was implemented. Simultaneously, the agencies in the
Region developed and coordinated a solid incident management program aimed at developing
common policies and procedures to be used during an incident. They included: activation/deactivation
of dynamic message signs, use of cameras, and use of pre-set messages. The end result
is an effective and efficient Team effort in responding and the handling of highway incidents,
particularly under the traffic constraints expected to occur during the reconstruction of I-235
within the Region.

Jacobs Civil Inc

Iowa DOT

Presented at the 12th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, November 6-10, 2005, San Francisco, California