Road traffic incidents, delays and benefits of faster notification

In this report, we examine the extent of incidents on the road network and the consequences these have for traffic in the form of queues and delays. The purpose is to highlight the benefits of faster notification of incidents – both to those clearing the road and road users. We conduct analysis of selected cases in the form of individual incidents on the E18 west of Oslo with significant consequences for traffic, as well as more general analyses that illustrate the total extent of incidents and their consequences. The results show that there are very many incidents, some of which have major consequences, while most probably have minor or no consequences. In order to provide concrete estimates of the benefits of faster warning, we need more knowledge about the consequences of a typical incident.