Rapid Incident Scene Clearance Annual Report (Fiscal Year 2012/2013)

In an effort to provide the traveling public of Florida with a cost-effective, high-quality transportation infrastructure, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), in conjunction with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), adopted and subsequently implemented an “Open Roads Policy” for quick clearance, safety, and mobility to make travel in Florida safer and more efficient. The Rapid Incident Scene Clearance (RISC) program, a highly innovative heavy-duty towing and recovery program, supports Florida’s Open Roads Policy, which establishes a 90-minute goal for clearance of a motor vehicle crash or incident on Florida’s roadways. The purpose of the RISC program is to safely and quickly restore highway facilities for safe public use. This program is a major component of Florida’s traffic incident management strategy.

RISC supports the Open Roads Policy by creating an incentive-based program that pays qualified, participating tow companies’ monetary bonuses for meeting quick clearance goals for the rapid removal of more complex traffic incidents. In order to participate in the program, towing and recovery companies must meet equipment and training standards developed to ensure the safe and efficient clearance of major incidents. The RISC program is most commonly used during major incidents that cause complete roadway closures on limited-access facilities where it is imperative to quickly restore traffic flow. This program does not eliminate the current FHP Class “C” (heavy-duty) wrecker class, but supplements it in those situations where there is a need for specialized equipment. This annual report shows how many times RISC was activated during the 2012-2013 fiscal year, and the performance of the project.