In traffic incident management, why would a risk assessment be conducted?

Conducting a risk assessment in traffic incident management is essential for pinpointing hazards and ensuring safety. It involves systematically identifying potential risks associated with traffic incidents, such as accidents, road obstructions, or hazardous weather conditions. By recognizing these hazards, responders and traffic management authorities can develop strategies to mitigate risks, implement safety protocols, and ensure the protection of both the public and the responders themselves.

This proactive approach helps in creating a safer environment on the roads, enabling effective planning and response measures to be put in place before an incident occurs. Understanding the risks involved allows for better resource allocation and improved emergency response times, ultimately leading to a reduction in the number of incidents and their severity.

The other options, while they may relate to traffic management, do not specifically address the primary purpose of a risk assessment in this context. Incentives for road builders, evaluations of infrastructure projects, and managing traffic flow are important aspects, but the focus of a risk assessment is predominantly on identifying and addressing safety hazards.