What is a Crash Investigation Site?

I frequently drive on expressways in Michigan and I have recently been beginning to take notice of blue signs that say "crash investigation site" and then direct you to an upcoming location, which is usually a little area on the shoulder of the road that appears to be meant for cars to pull over and park in. After wondering about these signs and areas for a while, I recently became curious enough to actually look into what these are and what they are designed for. I wasn't sure exactly what I would find, but, as it turns out, the answer is that these things are actually very simple yet also incredibly practical and important.

So, what are crash investigation sites? As described by the Florida Department of Transportation, "[a]ccident investigation sites, also referred to as emergency stopping sites or crash investigation sites, are improved areas off the freeway mainline, specifically designated and signed, that provide a safe area where motorists with partially disabled vehicles, law enforcement, fire-rescue and other public service vehicles can be temporarily relocated. Generally, these sites are identified by signs and sometimes pavement markings, have sufficient space to park multiple vehicles and lighting to ensure personal safety, and often have access to phone service."

Put differently, these are areas designed for disabled vehicles to pull over in order for the drivers to exchange information and wait for assistance, all in a safe location that reduces the chance of a second accident occurring due to the presence of a disabled vehicle or a pedestrian. Additionally, by moving the vehicles to one of these sites, roadway congestion is reduced, thus allowing traffic to flow more efficiently. These sites can even improve traffic on the other side of the road by reducing incidents of gawking or rubbernecking caused by passing vehicles looking at disabled vehicles on the side of the road.

Turning again to a report by the Florida Department of Transportation, "Motorists approaching a traffic incident on an interstate facility, even from the opposite direction, are often distracted by the emergency-vehicle lights and slow or brake abruptly to look (rubberneck) as they pass the incident. The lingering effect of this distraction significantly contributes to increased congestion and delay on freeway systems. By removing disabled and wrecked vehicles from the roadway and shoulders, safety is improved for responders, the motorists involved in the incident, and other motorists coming upon the incident. In addition, delay experienced by other motorists is reduced and by quickly restoring freeway capacity after an incident, the potential for secondary crashes is also reduced."

Thus, these sites can be very useful. However, as the Ann Arbor Observer noted, vehicles should not be relocated to these sites, which are placed along "heavily traveled freeways," if it is unsafe to drive or if injuries have occurred. This advice is consistent with the guidance found in "What Every Driver Must Know," which also discusses your obligations when it comes to exchanging information or reporting the accident to the police, for what to do when a crash occurs. Therefore, these sites are not designed for use after serious accidents, but rather for use following a relatively minor one.

In conclusion, while I previously was unaware of what these sites were for, a lot of work and thought goes into selecting and designing these sites, which play a very important role in keeping people safe and helping traffic to flow smoothly. I am truly impressed at how much research and thought goes into designing something that, when completed, resembles a parking area, but is actually a carefully designed tool to allow our freeways to run in a safe and efficient manner. Once again, I am truly fascinated by how much there is to learn in this world (even about mundane appearing things that we pass multiple times a week)!