NCJ Number
74537
Date Published
1979
Length
90 pages
Annotation
A method for measuring the role of citizen band (CB) radios in a highway patrol emergency response system is described using the Traffic Safety Demonstration Program Modeling System (DEMON).
Abstract
In the CB radio model, DEMON, an interactive, computerized mathematical simulation model, is used to simulate highway patrol response to such emergency situations as accidents, road hazards, and speeding drivers. Variables include geography, dynamics (vehicle speed and location, time variables, and CB range), and type of communications link. The communications links include a CB radio with a highway patrol unit or a highway patrol base, CB radio relay to a patrol unit or patrol base, CB radio contact directly or by relay to a CB base and CB base contact with the highway patrol, and citizen telephone notification to the highway patrol base. The model can measure changes in the detection, notification, and response time of a system, as conditions are allowed to vary. The model also compares the emergency response times when the highway patrol is assumed to have a CB communication system and when it does not. Steps in the model's operation are illustrated with examples from simulation runs and a user's guide is provided. Mathematical equations are given for determining the number of iterations, for calculating the response times of the communications links, and for establishing situational parameters. Tabular data for the sample simulations and a list of acronyms are included.