Traffic management centre halves crash clearance times
20 March, 2012
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk says accident clearance times on Brisbane’s road network have more than halved on average since the Brisbane Metropolitan Transport Management Centre Traffic (BMTMC) began operating almost six years ago.
During 2011 the average crash clearance time was 44 minutes and 30 seconds, down from 90 minutes, despite traffic volumes increasing.
The Lord Mayor said the BMTMC, which manages about 32,000 incidents each year, was proving to be a highly effective tool in improving traffic flow.
“Operating 24 hours and seven days a week, the BMTMC responds to all types of incidents including crashes, traffic hazards and stationery vehicles, while also managing traffic around major public events and monitoring roadwork’s,” Cr Quirk said.
“Its effectiveness is evident in the significant reduction in crash clearance times motorists are now experiencing, and is line with Council’s balanced transport strategy to provide an efficient and sustainable transport network for Brisbane.”
With 6500 kilometres of road under its watchful eye and 260 cameras inside the BMTMC monitoring the road network, Cr Quirk said it was no surprise crash clearance times had significantly decreased.
“What we are providing for motorists is a unified approach to incident management,” he said.
“As well as responding to issues caught on camera, motorists are also able to use one of the nearly 350 emergency phones across Brisbane roads to speak directly with an incident manager.”
Cr Quirk said the centre also shared a close association with emergency services.
“This includes the posting of a police officer at the BMTMC, which provides a direct link to the Police Communications Centre and field crews during peak hours,” Cr Quirk said.
“The assistance of these organisations is invaluable and allows for a quick and coordinated approach to incident management, helping ensure motorists are travelling across the city as smoothly as possible.
“The traffic management centre is just one way my administration is improving the road network in addition to projects such as the Road Action Program which is delivering 15 years of road upgrades in four years.”
The BMTMC is also responsible for the management of six Traffic Response Units (TRUs) operated by RACQ who are trained in securing incident scenes and managing traffic.
The BMTMC is a joint management centre run by the Brisbane City Council and State Government, which monitors the city’s road network, coordinates incident management and provides live information to motorists.
