Analysis of Optimal Locations for Towing Service Stations to Support Accident Management on Chalong Rat Expressway

Abstract

Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) operates expressways to facilitate and enhance the efficiency of transportation for the public, covering Bangkok and its surrounding areas with a total distance of over 224.6 kilometers and serving a daily traffic volume of approximately 1.71 million vehicles. Although the expressways are designed to provide convenient and safe travel for users, accidents can still occur due to various factors. From 2013 to 2023, the trend of accident occurrences has decreased by an average of 8.6% per year. However, the accidents that do occur still require rapid and safe management to minimize the loss of life and property, as well as to reduce delays and traffic congestion resulting from such incidents. The study found that at least seven towing service stations are required to achieve coverage of 92.5% of accident locations. The remaining 7.5% of accident sites fall outside the service coverage. The proposed towing service stations can operate both during and outside peak hours and cover both directions of traffic, thereby supporting or substituting for EXAT’s own towing operations. These findings can serve as a basis for decision-making in collaborating with local towing service providers. For accident sites outside the coverage area, EXAT's own towing vehicles can be deployed to ensure full coverage along the Chalong Rat Expressway. This approach not only reduces organizational costs by lowering the number of EXAT-owned tow trucks and related maintenance expenses, but also enhances the level of service by enabling faster and more comprehensive incident management across the Chalong Rat Expressway.